cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lipomatous tumors of the anterior mediastinum with muscle differentiation: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of three cases

Three cases of primary lipomatous tumors of the anterior mediastinum with prominent muscle differentiation are presented. The patients were two women and one man between the age of 52 and 68 years. All patients presented with progressive shortness of breath. Radiographically, all patients demonstrated anterior mediastinal tumors which were surgically resected. In two cases, the gross findings were those of circumscribed tumors, while one lesion was described as an ill-defined and unencapsulated neoplasm. Histologically, two cases corresponded to a well-differentiated liposarcoma, while the third was a thymolipoma. Extensive areas of smooth muscle were identified in one of the liposarcomas, while the other contained areas of mature skeletal muscle. The thymolipoma displayed a prominent myoid component. Immunohistochemical studies for muscle markers including smooth muscle actin, desmin, and myoglobin showed positive staining in the corresponding components. Follow-up information showed that one patient with liposarcoma died 60 months after initial diagnosis, while the other two patients remain alive and well 16 and 36 months after diagnosis, respectively. The current cases highlight the spectrum of muscle differentiation that can be seen in adipose tumors of the anterior mediastinum and also emphasize the difficulty that such a diagnosis can pose when confronted with limited mediastinoscopic biopsies.
Level of Gene Expression Is a Major Determinant of Protein Evolution in the Viral Order Mononegavirales

Although the rate at which proteins change is a key parameter in molecular evolution, its determinants are poorly understood in viruses. A variety of factors, including gene length, codon usage bias, protein abundance, protein function, and gene expression level, have been shown to affect the rate of protein evolution in a diverse array of organisms. However, the role of these factors in viral evolution has yet to be addressed. The polar 3′-5′ stepwise attenuation of transcription in the Mononegavirales, a group of single-strand negative-sense RNA viruses, provides a unique system to explore the determinants of protein evolution in viruses. We analyzed the relative importance of a variety of factors in shaping patterns of sequence variation in full-length genomes from 13 Mononegavirales species. Our analysis suggests that the level of gene expression, and by extension the relative genomic position of each gene, is a key determinant of the protein evolution in these viruses. This appears to be the consequence of selection for translational robustness, but not for translational accuracy, in highly expressed genes. The small genome size and number of proteins encoded by these viruses allowed us to identify other protein-specific factors that may also play a role in virus evolution, such as host-virus interactions and functional constraints. Finally, we explored the evolutionary pressures acting on noncoding regions in Mononegavirales genomes and observed that, despite being less constrained than coding regions, their evolutionary rates are also associated with genomic position.
Exposure of a late cretaceous layered mafic-felsic magma system in the central Sierra Nevada batholith, California

New U-Pb zircon ages for the Lamarck Granodiorite, associated synplutonic gabbro and diorite plutons, and two large mafic intrusive complexes that underlie them in the Sierra Nevada batholith are 92±1 Ma. These ages establish the Late Cretaceous as a period of extensive mafic-felsic magmatism in the central part of the batholith, and confirm the significance of mafic magmatism in the evolution of the voluminous silicic plutions in the Sierran arc. The lack of significant zircon inheritance in any of the units analyzed supports isotopic evidence that the Lamarck and other Late Cretaceous Sierran plutons were derived predominantly from young crust. Recognition of an extensive mafic-felsic magma system in the Sierra Nevada batholith emphasizes the importance of basaltic liquids in the evolution of continental crust in arc settings.
Coefficients of ergodicity for imprimitive matrices

In this paper the classical notion of coefficient of ergodicity for regular stochastic matrices is extended to imprimitive stochastic matrices. This coefficient is then used to obtain results on imprimitive stochastic matrices similar to those for the regular case. In particular, a cyclic type of convergence result, with convergence rate determined by the coefficient of ergodicity, is given
An fMRI Study of the Influence of a History of Substance Abuse on Working Memory-Related Brain Activation in Schizophrenia

There has been little investigation of the effects of past substance abuse (SA) on working memory (WM) impairments in schizophrenia. This study examined the behavioral and neurobiological impact of past SA (six months or longer abstinence period) on WM in schizophrenia. Thirty-seven schizophrenia patients (17 with past SA and 20 without) and 32 controls (12 with past SA and 20 without) completed two versions of a 2-back WM task during fMRI scanning on separate days. Analyses focused on regions whose patterns of activation replicated across both n-back tasks. Schizophrenia patients were significantly less accurate than controls on both n-back tasks. No main effects or interactions with past SA on WM performance were observed. However, several fronto-parietal-thalamic regions showed an interaction between diagnostic group and past SA. These regions were significantly more active in controls with past SA compared to controls without past SA. Schizophrenia patients with or without past SA either showed no significant differences, or patients with past SA showed somewhat less activation compared to patients without past SA during WM. These results suggest robust effects of past SA on WM brain functioning in controls, but less impact of past SA in schizophrenia. This is consistent with previous literature indicating less impaired neurocognition in schizophrenia with SA.
Critique and comparison of two stochastic theories of gravity-induced particle flow

Abstract Two stochastic theories of gravity-induced particle flow are compared and discussed: the subsidence theory developed by Litwiniszyn, and the steady-state flux theory independently developed much later by the author. Recent experimental evidence supporting the flux theory makes a clarification of the two theories desirable. It is shown that the subsidence theory contains internal inconsistencies. It turns out to be possible, however, to apply the powerful formalism, used by Litwiniszyn, to the flux (vertical component) rather than to the subsidence. This eliminates the inconsistency problem and results in a generalization of the steady-state flux theory.
Back to the Future Improving the Use of Guidelines-Recommended Coronary Disease Secondary Prevention at the Dawn of the Precision Medicine Era

This is an interesting and exciting time in medicine. The confluence of high throughput molecular assay platforms, sophisticated informatics capabilities, and cloud computing have us poised for the advent of an era of medical therapy in which it will be possible to more precisely define which patients are most likely to benefit from treatment with a given drug or have the best benefit to risk profile and tailor therapy accordingly. Yet, even as we revel in the promise and future possibilities of precision medicine in cardiovascular disease, it is important not to lose our focus on what we can and should do for our coronary artery disease (CAD) patients today. Although it is true that the current process of developing and testing new therapies and resultant treatment recommendations has followed a "one-size-fits-all" approach, we have learned much about adherence to evidence-based medicine and performance improvement and their relationships to improved clinical outcomes at the population level.
Symptomatic atrial septal defect in infants

Abstract Clinical and hemodynamic data obtained in seven infants with atrial septal defects who developed congestive heart failure and recurrent pneumonia during the first year of life were analyzed. Auscultatory findings were variable and were not specific for atrial septal defect. Vigorous medical management was sufficient to maintain these infants during the critical first year of life. Because of the good prognosis it is imperative to differentiate this defect from other cardiac lesions which cause large left-to-right shunts and which require early surgical intervention.
Correlational Sperm Motility Analysis: Wild Rodent Progressive Sperm Motility as a Potentially Improved Reproduction-Assessment Parameter in Mammals

Progressive sperm motility, describing the directed or linear movement of sperm, is infrequently reported in reproductive studies conducted with rodents. This is a curious circumstance given that progressive motility can be easily reported with current computer-assisted sperm-analysis equipment, and because progressively motile sperm seemingly display a greater likelihood of fertilizing ova than do sperm that move in a random or undefined pattern. This study presents a comparison of the routinely reported total motility (i.e., the percentage of moving sperm cells in a sample) and the progressive motility of sperm from rodents captured at soil-contaminated sites and at habitat-matched noncontaminated reference locations. Progressive motility’s trending with total motility at all areas, in terms of direction of shift, magnitude of change, and degree of correlation, was extremely high. Based on these results and in the interest of assisting ecological health assessments at contaminated sites, it would seem prudent to conduct the empirical research to determine progressive sperm motility’s threshold-for-effect, which may be lower than that for total motility.
Nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis: Current concepts and controversies

Approximately 6600 cases and 350 deaths due to testicular cancer are expected in the United States during 1994.1 This uncommon group of tumors accounts for approximately 1% of all cancers in male subjects. The incidence of this disease appears to be rising in the United States as well as in various parts of Europe. 2 Nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) include embryonal carcinoma, teratoma, yolk sac tumors, and choriocarcinoma, each alone or in various combinations. Tumors containing seminomatous and nonseminomatous elements are categorized and managed as nonseminoma. Approximately 40% of patients with NSGCT will present with tumor confined to the testis (Stage I), 40% with Stage II, and 20% with Stage III. 2 Five year survival for testicular cancer has increased dramatically over the past 30 years from 63% in the 1960s to over 90% at the present time. I This spectacular improvement is commonly attributed to the appropriate integration of effective cisplatin-based chemotherapy and surgery, and, with the advent of computed tomographic (CT) scans and reliable serum tumor markers, which are refined clinical staging modalities. 3 Given the high probability of cure now possible, research has currently focused on individualizing therapy for specific patients so that survival is not compromised, morbidity is minimized, and quality of life is maintained. The cornerstone of this approach is the ability to predict reliably an individual patient's prognosis. 4'5 There is no controversy regarding the role of an inguinal orchiectomy in the treatment of germ cell tumor (GCT) of the testis. This procedure provides histopathologic diagnosis and P categorization; is associated with minimal morbidity, small functional sacrifice, and no mortality; and provides local control of the neoplasm with virtual 100% effectiveness, the rare exceptions being largely due to prior ipsilateral scrotal surgery or suboptimal orchiectomy. Furthermore, a subset of patients may be cured by orchiectomy alone. 6 The basis for further treatment following a radical orchiectomy is necessarily dependent on the histologic nature of the primary tumor, the natural history of the disease, the accuracy of clinical staging, and the existence of therapeutic alternatives. 6
Interaction of atrial natriuretic factor and endothelin-1 signals through receptor guanylate cyclase in pulmonary artery endothelial cells

The endothelial cell has a unique intrinsic feature: it produces a most potent vasopressor peptide hormone, endothelin (ET-1), yet it also contains a signaling system of an equally potent hypotensive hormone, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF). This raises two related curious questions: does the endothelial cell also contain an ET-1 signaling system? If yes, how do the two systems interact with each other? The present investigation was undertaken to determine such a possibility. Bovine pulmonary artery endothelial (BPAE) cells were chosen as a model system. Identity of the ANF receptor guanylate cyclase was probed with a specific polyclonal antibody to the 180 kDa membrane guanylate cyclase (mGC) ANF receptor. A Western-blot analysis of GTP-affinity-purified endothelial cell membrane proteins recognized a 180 kDa band; the same antibody inhibited the ANF-stimulated guanylate cyclase activity; the ANF-dependent rise of cyclic GMP in the intact cells was dose-dependent. By affinity cross-linking technique, a predominant 55 kDa membrane protein band was specifically labeled with [125I]ET-1. ET-1 treatment of the cells showed a migration of the protein kinase C (PKC) activity from cytosol to the plasma membrane; ET-1 inhibited the ANF-dependent production of cyclic GMP in a dose-dependent fashion with an EC50 of 100 nM. This inhibitory effect was duplicated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a known PKC-activator. The EC50 of PMA was 5 nM. A PKC inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinyl-sulfonyl)-2-methyl piperazine (H-7), blocked the PMA-dependent attenuation of ANF-dependent cyclic GMP formation. These results demonstrate that the 180 kDa mGC-coupled ANF and ET-1 signaling systems coexist in endothelial cells and that the ET-1 signal negates the ANF-dependent guanylate cyclase activity and cyclic GMP formation. Furthermore, these results support the paracrine and/or autocrine role of ET-1.
PREPARATION OF WATER-SOLUBLE POLYMERS MODIFIED WITH SULFUR DONORS FOR RECOVERY OF HEAVY METALS

Polyethylenimine (PEI) was modified with ligands containing sulfur donors to give soluble polymers for binding toxic metal ions. Reaction of purified PEI with mercaptosuccinic anhydride, ethylene sulfide, or methylthiocyanate gave PEI-MSA (25% functionalization), PEI-ET (100% functionalization), and PEI-TU (25% functionalization), respectively. Purification of the polymers was accomplished by diafiltration. The capacities for toxic metal ions (Hg, Cd, and Pb) and transition metal ions (Cu and Ni) were measured for each of the polymers. PEI-ET and PEI-TU showed high affinity for the softer metal ions, Hg and Cd, with loading capacities substantially higher than those for the base polymer PEI. Both polymers had high capacities for Cu. Release of the metal ions from the polymers was accomplished by lowering pH; however, small amounts of metal remained bound to the polymers at pH 1. Competition studies showed that PEI-TU and PEI-ET bound Hg and Cu more strongly than Cd and Pb.
Rational Synthesis of Trans-Substituted Porphyrin Building Blocks Containing One Sulfur or Oxygen Atom in Place of Nitrogen at a Designated Site

The use of heteroatom-substituted porphyrins in bioorganic and materials chemistry requires the ability to position a variety of substituents in a controlled manner about the porphyrin periphery. We describe a rational route to trans-AB2C-type porphyrins bearing one oxygen atom (N3O) or one sulfur atom (N3S) in a designated location in the porphyrin core. The synthesis involved four stages: (1) Acid-catalyzed condensation of a furyl- or thienylcarbinol in excess pyrrole afforded the aryl-substituted furyl- or thienylpyrromethane in high yield. (2) Treatment of the furyl- or thienylpyrromethane with an acid chloride catalyzed by SnCl4 or AlCl3 afforded the corresponding diketo product. (3) Reduction with NaBH4 in alcoholic solvents gave the furyl- or thienylpyrromethanediols. (4) Reaction of a furylpyrromethanediol, thienylpyrromethanediol, or dipyrromethanediol with a dipyrromethane in a one-flask process of condensation followed by oxidation gave the corresponding porphyrin. Reaction conditions previous...
Frequency dependent crustal scattering and absorption at 5–160 Hz from coda decay observed at 2.5 km Depth

A triaxial 10 Hz seismometer at 2.5 km depth in the Cajon Pass borehole near the San Andreas fault in southern California records shear-wave coda motion from small local events for over 20 seconds duration. The passband of recorded seismic motion is 5 Hz to 200 Hz. To measure the rate of coda energy decay as a function of frequency, we filter the vector velocity seismograms of seven events into five octave-wide frequency bands (mean frequencies ≈ 7, 14, 28, 56 and 112 Hz) and square the filtered seismograms. The observed energy decay in each passband is well approximated by first and second order scattering plus intrinsic attenuation as formulated by Zeng at al. (JGR 1991). The fits determine two energy decay parameters expressed as inverse lengths, sscat for scattering and sintr for absorption. Because the source-receiver distance is less than the thickness of the upper crust and the receiver is at depth, the direct body wave is uncomplicated by refracted energy and/or surface waves and allows accurate recording of coda energy relative to source pulse energy. The coda/source energy ratio directly defines the scattering attenuation parameter sscat and voids the need for multiple offset observations. The observed frequency behavior of scattering is sscat≈f1.3; the intrinsic attenuation parameter has frequency dependence sintr≈f0.43. Normalized to energy lost per unit cycle (quality factor Q), intrinsic attenuation decreases with frequency, Qintr≈f0.57, while scattering attenuation increases with frequency, Qscat≈1/f0.3 with Qscat > 10Qintr at all observed frequencies.
Direct Identification of Two Distinct Transition State Structures in Reduction of a Disulfide Bond Revealed by Single Bond Force-clamp Spectroscopy

Disulfide bonds are common to many extracellular proteins, where they serve to stabilize the native conformation. Indeed, the thiol/disulfide exchange mechanism is involved in important and complex biological processes. Much experimental and theoretical work seems to support the idea that the reaction proceeds through an uncomplicated SN2. While in gas phase a double minimum potential model describes the potential energy surface governing the chemical reaction, in solution phase only unimodal, concerted profiles without intermediates have been identified. However, the detailed shapes of the energy surfaces of these reactions are largely unknown, because the collisions with solvent control the trajectories of the molecules. The combination of molecular engineering techniques with single molecule force-clamp spectroscopy has made it possible to monitor the reduction of single disulfide bonds, allowing us to experimentally measure the bond elongation at the reaction transition state with sub-Angstrom resolution. Such an experimental approach provides an unprecedented experimental platform to directly probe the energy landscape of a simple chemical reaction in solution at the single bond level. By greatly expanding the range of pulling forces up to 1.5 nN, where covalent bonds are not yet broken, here we demonstrate that the disulfide bond cleavage by hydroxyl occurs through a double-barrier energy landscape. Whereas at low pulling forces (100-500pN) the reaction rate is limited by a first energy barrier exhibiting a distance to the transition state Δx ∼0.5 A, at higher forces (500-1500 pN) a second energy barrier exhibiting a shorter transition state of Δx ∼0.1 A becomes dominant. Our experimental approach allows us to probe regions of the energy landscape that were previously experimentally inaccessible, revealing signatures of unanticipated complexity.
Rapid dike emplacement leads to eruptions and hydrothermal plume release during seafloor spreading events

The creation of ocean crust by rapid injection of magma at mid-ocean ridges can lead to eruptions of lava onto the seafloor and release of “event plumes,” which are huge volumes of anomalously warm water enriched in reduced chemicals that rise up to 1 km above the seafloor. Here, we use seismic data to show that seafloor eruptions and the release of hydrothermal event plumes correspond to diking episodes with high injection velocities and rapid onset of magma emplacement within the rift zone. These attributes result from high excess magma pressure at the dike source, likely due to a new influx of melt from the mantle. These dynamic magmatic conditions can be detected remotely and may predict the likelihood of event plume release during future seafloor spreading events.
Electronic structure properties of solvated biomolecules: A quantum approach for macromolecular characterization

Linear-scaling electronic structure calculations of solvated biomolecules have been carried out using a semiempirical Hamiltonian and a new smooth solvation potential. These methods afford a new way of generating macromolecular properties that include quantum electronic structure. In addition to the widely used classical electrostatic potential maps based on empirically derived static point charges, now fully quantum mechanical electrostatic potentials that include electronic polarization are possible. Linear-scaling electronic structure methods provide a host of response properties of the electron density such as linear response functions, local hardness functions, and Fukui functions. It is the hope that these indices will extend insight into problems of biological macromolecular characterization. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 1562–1571, 2000
On the Characteristics and Circulation of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

Abstract The waters found within the southwestern Atlantic Ocean extend into it as separate lavers with markedly different characteristics. Along the western boundary the deeper waters, derived from the North Atlantic, are warm, highly saline, oxygen-rich and nutrient-poor. This North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) lies within the density range of the Circumpolar Water (CPW) from the south, which is cooler, lower in salinity, very low in oxygen and very high in nutrients. Where the NADW and CPW meet in the southwestern Atlantic, the NADW separates the CPW into two layers above and below the NADW—each less saline, richer in nutrients and lower in oxygen than the NADW. Above the upper branch of the CPW lies the Subantarctic Intermediate Water, which is lowest in salinity of all the layers. Beneath the lower branch of the CPW lies an abyssal layer derived from the mid-depths of the Weddell Sea. It is colder, less saline, lower in nutrients and higher in oxygen than the Circumpolar Water. These layers appear to b...
Relative and absolute level populations in beam-foil-excited neutral helium

Relative and absolute populations of 19 levels in beam-foil-excited neutral helium at 0.275 MeV have been measured. The singlet angular-momentum sequences show dependences on principal quantum number consistent with n to the -3rd power, but the triplet sequences do not. Singlet and triplet angular-momentum sequences show similar dependences on level excitation energy. Excitation functions for six representative levels were measured in the range from 0.160 to 0.500 MeV. The absolute level populations increase with energy, whereas the neutral fraction of the beam decreases with energy. Further, the P angular-momentum levels are found to be overpopulated with respect to the S and D levels. The overpopulation decreases with increasing principal quantum number.
Type 0 ulnar longitudinal deficiency.

Purpose To describe the characteristics of type 0 ulnar longitudinal deficiency (ULD) in which deficiencies are present in the hand and carpus without involvement of the forearm or elbow. Methods A retrospective chart, radiograph, and clinical photograph review (1960–2005) of patients previously diagnosed with ectrodactyly, hand hypoplasia, or ULD was performed to evaluate for a diagnosis of ULD isolated to the hand. Results Thirteen extremities were identified. Three extremities had complete absence of the small-finger ray (phalanges and metacarpal) and 6 extremities had complete absence of the ring- and small-finger rays. Four hands showed hypoplasia of the small finger, 3 in conjunction with a ring- and small-metacarpal synostosis and 1 in isolation. Three extremities also had radial-sided hypoplasia or aplasia of the rays. Additional common findings included simple syndactyly, delta phalanx, and carpal fusions, most commonly of the capitohamate joint. Conclusions Patients with isolated ulnar-sided hand deficiency such as ectrodactyly of the ring and/or small fingers or synostosis of the small metacarpal of the ring finger in the presence of a normal forearm may be diagnosed as having type 0 ULD. We propose that type 0 be added to the current classification systems for ULD representing those extremities with deficiencies isolated to the hand.
Controllability of nonlinear delay systems

A necessary and sufficient condition for complete controllability of differential systems with delay is proved, which extends analogous results for usual differential systems.
Elaboration of lymphotoxin by freshly isolated human T lymphocytes and continuous lymphoid-cell lines.

Abstract Freshly isolated human T lymphocytes were demonstrated to produce lymphotoxin (LT) after mitogenic stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). In contrast, freshly isolated B lymphocytes, stimulated with two B-cell mitogens [pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and Staphylococcus protein A (Staph A)] did not produce the lymphokine, although thymidine incorporation was increased in these cells. We also examined a series of nine continuous human lymphoid-cell lines with B-cell markers and observed the spontaneous release of either large or small amounts of cytotoxin, or none at all. Cytotoxin from one of the productive cell-lines (H4218) was compared in detail with that obtained from PHA-stimulated, freshly isolated human lymphocytes. The behavior of the two cytotoxins was found to be identical in respect to migration on polyacrylamide gel, neutralization with rabbit anti-human α-LT serum, ultracentrifugation on 5–30% sucrose gradients, and stability for 15 min at 75 °C. Observation of these identical parameters strongly suggests that the α-LT elaborated by PHA-stimulated, freshly isolated human lymphoid cells is the same as the cytotoxin obtained from the continuous human lymphoid-cell line H4218. Thus α-LT may also be produced in quantity from continuous lymphoid-cell lines by mass tissue-culture techniques, which are more readily applicable to large-scale production than is purification from freshly cultured human lymphoid tissues. Notably, in cultures of freshly isolated human lymphoid cells, only T cells, and not B cells, generated lymphotoxin. However, continuous human lymphoid-cell lines with B-cell markers can also secrete this lymphokine.
Relational subscription middleware for Internet-scale publish-subscribe

We present a design of a distributed publish-subscribe system that extends the functionality of messaging middleware with "relational subscriptions", to support timely updates to state derived from published messages while preserving high throughput, scalability, and reliability.Critical to our design is our service guarantee of "eventual correctness". Eventual correctness is a weaker guarantee than the ACID properties of conventional databases, yet is useful enough to deliver state that is "just consistent enough".A key component of our design is a monotonic type system. All states delivered to clients represent facts that are permanently true, that may be refined by future updates, but will never become false. The monotonic type system is used both to formalize eventual correctness, and as a basis for our implementation, which generalizes the "Guaranteed Delivery" protocol previously implemented in the Gryphon system.We discuss: (1) our monotonic type system and relational subscription language; (2) eventual correctness; (3) the architecture of our implementation; (4) potential optimizations that form a basis for future studies.
Properties of zirconium carbide for nuclear fuel applications

Zirconium carbide (ZrC) is a potential coating, oxygen-gettering, or inert matrix material for advanced high temperature reactor fuels. ZrC has demonstrated attractive properties for these fuel applications including excellent resistance against fission product corrosion and fission product retention capabilities. However, fabrication of ZrC results in a range of stable sub-stoichiometric and carbon-rich compositions with or without substantial microstructural inhomogeneity, textural anisotropy, and a phase separation, leading to variations in physical, chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The effects of neutron irradiation at elevated temperatures, currently only poorly understood, are believed to be substantially influenced by those compositional and microstructural features further adding complexity to understanding the key ZrC properties. This article provides a survey of properties data for ZrC, as required by the United States Department of Energy’s advanced fuel programs in support of the current efforts toward fuel performance modeling and providing guidance for future research on ZrC for fuel applications.
Humans and the Soil

The way we farm, the kinds of backyards and landscapes we favor, and the way we control patterns of development are creating an invisible crisis through their affects upon soil ecology. The invisibility of soil ecosystems, the seemingly alien properties of the organisms that inhabit them, and the specialized knowledge required to understand them create obstacles to moral concern for these fountains of life. Our treatment of soils has reached the point of crisis. Obstacles to moral thinking about soils might be overcome by supplying the moral imagination with a deeper understanding of our own biological identity as ecosystems analogous in organization and functions to soil ecosystems. Not only have microbes created the conditions necessary for human life, but they have shaped our evolutionary history and helped constitute the human genome. Our biological identity encompasses communities of microbes, such that humans (and all organisms) are most properly understood as ecosystems. For this reason, moral concern for humans implies moral concern for ecosystems.
Evolution of program documentation through a long-term project

This paper is a case study with some recommendations. Over the course of a four-year (twenty person-year) project, the method of documenting programs changed from using separate files containing input data for a documentation lister, to placing all of the program documentation in the source code and using an extraction program when separate documentation was needed. The history and reasons for this evolution are described. The project revealed the usefulness of documentation tools including program templates, a good cross-reference lister, in-line documentation, and the extraction program.
Swallowing With a Tracheostomy Tube in Place: Does Cuff Inflation Matter?:

Patients undergoing tracheostomy may recover enough to be weaned from mechanical ventilation but continue to need the tracheostomy tube for airway toilet. When feeding a patient with a tracheostomy...
Executive Function in Probands With Autism With Average IQ and Their Unaffected First-Degree Relatives

Objective This study aimed to characterize executive function (EF) in pedigrees of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and average IQ. The authors examined the hypothesis that deficits in EF relate to lower levels of adaptive functioning, and they assessed evidence for a cognitive extended phenotype in unaffected relatives in a large, well-characterized sample. Method Proband EF was assessed by parent-report questionnaires (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning [BRIEF], n = 109) and child neuropsychological tests (Delis-Kaplan Executive Functioning System [D-KEFS], n = 35). EF also was examined in parents (D-KEFS, n = 335) and unaffected siblings (BRIEF, n = 114; D-KEFS, n = 57). Adaptive functioning was assessed by the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales–II (n = 155). All data were obtained from the Autism Consortium Clinical Genetics Database. Results Individuals with ASD showed important EF weaknesses. Multiple regression analyses showed that parent-reported EF deficits were related to profound decreases in adaptive functioning even after controlling for age, IQ, and severity of ASD symptoms. Parent-reported EF also was related to adaptive skills in preschoolers. First-degree unaffected relatives did not demonstrate difficulties with EF compared with normative data. Conclusion In this study, EF impairments do not appear to relate to broad familial risk factors for ASD but may be associated with factors relevant to the expression of ASD in probands. Results support the benefits of EF assessment as a way to identify potential therapeutic targets that could lead to improved adaptive behavior in children with ASD and average IQ.
Botulinum toxin treatment for acute traumatic complete sixth nerve palsy

To investigate the benefits of botulinum toxin (BTX) injection for acute unilateral complete sixth nerve palsy caused by trauma. We retrospectively reviewed patients treated for acute unilateral complete sixth nerve palsy caused by head injury during a 10-year period (between March 1993 and February 2003) in our hospital. The BTX treatment group was defined as patients who received BTX injection within 3 months of injury. Patients who presented within 3 months of trauma, and had no previous BTX injection or surgery were enrolled as the conservative treatment group. Comparison of the patient demographics, palsy characteristics, angle of deviations, and recovery rates were made between the two groups. In all, 33 patients were enrolled by our inclusion criteria. Of these, 19 patients were treated conservatively, and 14 patients were treated with BTX. A total of 79% of our patients presented with abduction deficit of grade −5. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the outcome for the two groups based on age, gender, time to presentation, severity, and initial angle of deviation. The BTX group had a higher recovery rate than the conservative treatment group (64.3 vs 26.3%, P=0.028). Among 26 patients with grade −5 abduction deficit, the recovery rate was higher in the BTX-treated patients than in the conservatively treated patients, which had no statistical significance (50 vs 18.8%, P=0.09). BTX facilitates recovery of acute traumatic complete sixth nerve palsy in severely injured patients.
Assessment of longitudinal myocardial mechanics in patients with degenerative mitral valve regurgitation predicts postoperative worsening of left ventricular systolic function.

Background The optimal timing of mitral valve repair (MVr) in patients with chronic severe degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) remains controversial and is broadly based on either measurable loss of systolic function, as determined by left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) and/or LV chamber remodeling. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the assessment of LV deformation by speckle-tracking echocardiography might uncover subclinical changes for predicting reduction of LVEF after MVr. Methods One hundred thirty patients (mean age, 57 ± 14 years; 85 men) who underwent MVr for chronic severe degenerative MR were retrospectively identified. Baseline and immediate postoperative transthoracic echocardiography was used to assess global longitudinal strain (GLS), global radial strain, and global circumferential strain before and after MVr. Results In comparison with baseline, MVr resulted in significant reductions in LVEF ( P P r = −0.71, P r = −0.22, P = .01) but not global radial strain. For the entire group, the presence of a high preoperative GLS magnitude predicted a postoperative reduction in LVEF of >10% (odds ratio, 0.80; P 10% with a resulting postoperative LVEF of P Conclusions In chronic severe degenerative MR, disproportionately higher LV global longitudinal strain signifies a maladaptive preload-related change that is associated with substantial loss of LVEF immediately after MVr. Preoperative assessment of longitudinal strain may be potentially useful for optimizing the timing of MVr for degenerative MR.
Effect of caffeine and zinc on DNA and protein synthesis of neonatal rat cardiac muscle cell in culture.

The effect of caffeine and/or zinc on DNA and protein synthesis of purified neonatal-rat ventricular cardiac myocytes was studied. Caffeine (0.2–2 mM) inhibited both DNA and protein synthesis of the cells. Addition of EDTA in the growth medium inhibited both DNA and protein synthesis. Without caffeine and in the presence of lower concentrations of caffeine (0.2 mM) in the growth medium, 10μM of zinc concentration reversed DNA synthesis, which was inhibited by the chelating agent (EDTA). Higher concentrations of caffeine (2 mM) in the growth medium completely abolished sensitivity of cardiac myocytes to zinc. Additional zinc supplementation to the growth medium of cardiac myocytes did not alter the rate of protein synthesis. The present results suggest that the effect of caffeine on cardiac myocytes may be associated with the zinc-dependent enzymes involved in DNA synthesis.
Osteolytic sinusitis and pneumomediastinum: Deceptive otolaryngologic complications of cocaine abuse

Recreational cocaine abuse via intranasal "snorting," "free-base" smoking, "body-packing," or intravenous injection can be lethal. Increasing illicit use of cocaine hydrochloride and the misuse of legal over-the-counter (OTC) nasal drugs are known causative agents of nasal septal perforation with loss of taste and smell. Although 2 to 3 mg/kg is the recommended maximum dose for topical anesthesia, cocaine snorters may use 1,000 mg or more daily on a "run." Furthermore, the newer route of smoking the extracted volatile "free-base" form of the adulterated street drug provides a plasma concentration producing the same physiological and subjective effects of intravenous cocaine. Presented are two cases exemplifying unusual complications of cocaine abuse: 1. total nasal septal bony and cartilaginous necrosis with resultant saddle-nose deformity and osteolytic sinusitis secondary to chronic intranasal "snorting" and 2. tracheobronchial rupture with pneumomediastinum secondary to smoking "free-base" cocaine.
Chavin and the Origins of Andean Civilization

Of the six independent centres of civilization in world prehistory, probably the least well known is Chavin de Huantar, high up in the Andes, where South America's oldest complex culture arose during the first millennium BC and created its earliest known city. The Chavin style dominated Peruvian art and architecture for hundreds of years and influenced all that came after. But what was the exact nature of this style? How did Chavin civilization develop, and why did it eventually collapse? New answers are emerging after unprecedented discoveries made over the past two decades. Drawing on his intimate knowledge of these findings, including his own excavations at Chavin and elsewhere, Professor Burger argues controversially - that the first monumental architecture and great art in the Andes were created by economically egalitarian pre-Chavin societies. It is now known that such pre-state cultures built massive truncated pyramids as ancient as those of Old Kingdom Egypt. Chavin civilization represents a synthesis of these traditions, forged through the impact of long-distance trade and a new religious ideology. Accompanied by a wealth of photographs, drawings and maps, it will be of great interest to art historians as well as archaeologists and students of comparative civilization.
Enzymic degradation of plasma arginine using arginine deiminase inhibits nitric oxide production and protects mice from the lethal effects of tumour necrosis factor α and endotoxin

Septic shock is mediated in part by nitric oxide (NO) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha). NO is synthesized primarily from extracellular arginine. We tested the ability of an arginine-degrading enzyme to inhibit NO production in mice and to protect mice from the hypotension and lethality that occur after the administration of TNFalpha or endotoxin. Treatment of BALB/c mice with arginine deiminase (ADI) formulated with succinimidyl succinimide polyethylene glycol of M(r) 20000 (ADI-SS PEG(20000)) eliminated all measurable plasma arginine (from normal levels of approximately 155 microM arginine to 2 microM). In addition, ADI-SS PEG(20000) also inhibited the production of NO, as quantified by plasma nitrate+nitrite. Treatment of mice with TNFalpha or endotoxin resulted in a dose-dependent increase in NO production and lethality. Pretreatment of mice with ADI-SS PEG(20000) resulted in increased resistance to the lethal effects of TNFalpha and endotoxin. These observations are consistent with NO production resulting, to some extent, from the metabolism of extracellular arginine. The toxic effects of TNFalpha and endotoxin may be partially inhibited by enzymic degradation of plasma arginine by ADI-SS PEG(20000). Interestingly, pretreatment with ADI-SS PEG(20000) did not inhibit the anti-tumour activity of TNFalpha in vitro or in vivo. This treatment may allow greater amounts of TNFalpha, as well as other cytokines, to be administered while abrogating side effects such as hypotension and death.
Adsorption and elution of extracellular matrix proteins on non-tissue culture polystyrene petri dishes

Abstract We have devised a simple procedure for directly measuring the adsorption of fibrinogen, type IV collagen, and fibronectin on non-tissue culture polystyrene petri dishes using proteins labeled with 125I and removable dish sections. Our approach provides a rapid method for obtaining quantitative adsorption isotherms for these large extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in situations applicable for studies of cell culture and cell adhesion migration . We found that the surface density of adsorbed ECM protein depends not only on solution protein concentration but also on ECM protein type, with roughly one and two orders of magnitude more fibronectin and type IV collagen, respectively, adsorbing at an equivalent solution concentration compared to fibrinogen. Adsorption isotherms for each of these proteins were compared with theoretical bounds for monolayer density based on random sequential adsorption and molecular close-packing. We also observed that exposure to 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate in 3 M NaOH for 25 h was effective at eluting fibrinogen from our dishes over a wide range of protein concentration, but that this same detergent treatment was ineffective at completely desorbing type IV collagen adsorbed at high density. Our results, useful to researchers examining the role of substratum-bound molecules in the control of cell behavior, demonstrate that estimates of the adsorbed molecular density of ECM proteins obtained from indirect methods, such as elution and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, or inferred from solution coating concentrations may provide erroneous estimates of the true number of molecules actually adsorbed.
Multifractal Geometry of Diffusion-Limited Aggregates

Off-lattice diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) clusters are shown to have multifractal geometry. We determine the Dq spectrum associated with the mass distribution using an improved sand box technique and demonstrate that they decrease monotonically with increasing q. From our results it follows that the commonly used methods for the determination of the fractal dimension of DLA clusters yield Dq=2 which is smaller than the true fractal dimension Dq=0.
Electrostatic modes of ion-trap plasmas

The electrostatic modes of a non-neutral plasma confined in a Penning or Paul (rf) trap are discussed in the limit that the Debye length is small compared to the plasma dimensions and the plasma dimensions are small compared to the trap dimensions. In this limit the plasma shape is spheroidal and analytic solutions exist for all of the modes. The solutions for the modes of a Paul-trap plasma are a special case of the modes of a Penning-trap plasma. A simple derivation of some of the low-order quadrupole modes is given. Experimental measurements of these mode frequencies on plasmas of laser-cooled ${\mathrm{Be}}^{+}$ ions in a Penning trap agree well with the calculations. A general discussion of the higher-order modes is given. The modes provide a nondestructive method for obtaining information on the plasma density and shape. In addition, they may provide a practical limit to the density and number of charged particles that can be stored in a Penning trap.
Pavement Response to Moving Loads

ABSTRACT A multi-layer, four dimensional spatial and temporal, physical model for the dynamic responses of a road structure is established in an analytic framework by integrating together vehicle dynamics, road profiles characteristics, frictional characteristics of vehicle-road contacts, and pavement visco-elastic properties. Functional expressions for displacement, stress and strain within layered structures are derived. Surface roughness effect on the dynamic response of road structures is investigated. The dynamic stress, strain, and displacement are examined using a visco-elastic two-layer road as an example. The model can help practitioners to estimate the dynamic response of asphalt concrete pavements for various design and rehabilitation purposes; moreover, it is applicable for studying the dynamic responses of Portland cement concrete pavements by adjusting the material parameters in the model.
Design and synthesis of statine-Containing BACE inhibitors

Abstract Utilizing structure-based techniques and solid-phase synthesis, statine-based tetrapeptide BACE inhibitors were designed and synthesized using a heptapeptide BACE transition-state mimetic, 1, as the starting point. Structure–activity relationship studies at the P3, P2, and P2′ positions as well as the N-terminal capping group on scaffold 5 led to the discovery of potent inhibitors 27, 32, and 34 (IC50
A comprehensive language curriculum may benefit the expressive language skills of at-risk preschool children under specific circumstances

Abstracted from: Justice, L. M., Mashburn, A., Pence, K. L., & Wiggins, A. (2008). Experimental evaluation of a preschool language curriculum: Influence on children's expressive language skills. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 51, 983–1001. Source of funding: U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences.
The development of contractual norms in bargaining: replication and variation

Although a great deal of research has been done during the past decade and a half on the processes associated with conforming to norms (e.g., Deutsch and Gerard, 1955; Hollander, 1960; and Jones, Jones, and Gergen, 1963), very little work has been done on the prior processes through which the norms come into existence. In understanding these processes and conditions which produce norms it may be useful to begin by inquiring into the ways in which norms provide adaptive solutions or functional advantages that are superior to other forms of social control. Such a functional approach has been suggested by Thibaut and Kelley (1959, pp. 130-42) in discussing the consequences of substituting normative control for control by interpersonal power. For example, in the A-B (dyadic) relationship, suppose A is in the act of exercising power over B. The substitution of normative control for the use of raw power may be advantageous to A as it enables him to regularize and stabilize his control over B. At the same time, the substitution reduces A's costs of surveillance and eliminates the ostentation of his power usage. The advantages to B of this substitution are less apparent but