cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Moderators of treatment outcomes in a partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient program for eating disorders

Eating disorders cause a number of severely impairing symptoms that may require more intensive intervention that is available through outpatient therapy services. The PHP/IOP level of care may be an effective mode of treatment in these cases, but few studies have examined overall outcomes or treatment moderators for this level of care. Using a large sample from a PHP/IOP specifically designed for the treatment of eating disorders, the current study examines a variety of symptoms (eating disorder severity, quality of life, depression, etc.) from admission to discharge, as well as potential moderators of treatment, including demographic and clinical factors. Overall, the PHP/IOP level of care was found to improve treatment outcomes. Age, race, gender, and depression were found to moderate the change in quality of life and functional impairment. Additionally, patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa had significantly lowered quality of life and greater eating disorder symptomatology than all other diagnoses. The results of this study can help to inform clinical practice and help guide in treatment decisions at the partial hospitalization level of care.
Problematic cell phone use, depression, anxiety, and self-regulation: Evidence from a three year longitudinal study from adolescence to emerging adulthood

Abstract For a small percentage of cell phone users, cell phone use becomes problematic or addictive, characterized by excessive time spent on the cell phone, interference with social relationships and responsibilities, and difficulty disengaging from cell phones. Researchers have argued that depression, anxiety, and self-regulation may be risk factors or outcomes of problematic cell phone use, but there are few longitudinal studies on problematic cell phone use, making it unclear if these behaviors are predictors or outcomes of problematic cell phone use. The current study examined these factors during late adolescence and the transition to emerging adulthood. Participants included 385 individuals between the ages of 17 and 19 who completed a series of questionnaires once a year over a three year period. Problematic cell phone use, anxiety, depression, and self-regulation were all moderately associated at the cross-sectional level. Early problematic cell phone use predicted later depression when these variables were examined longitudinally, as opposed to the converse. There were no longitudinal associations between problematic cell phone use and anxiety or self-regulation. In sum, problematic cell phone use was fairly stable across the transition from adolescence to emerging adulthood and was associated with depression in the future.
358 CURRENT PREDICTORS OF BLEEDING AFTER PERCUTANEOUS KIDNEY BIOPSY.

Background Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) are felt to have an acquired platelet dysfunction and an increased risk of bleeding during invasive procedures. This report summarizes our ongoing experience with clinical and laboratory predictors of bleeding risk during percutaneous native and transplant kidney biopsies. Methods Prospective cohort study so far enrolling 41 patients undergoing renal biopsy, designed to assess clinical utility of PFA-100. Baseline data included age, sex, weight, BMI, blood pressure (BP), serum chemistry, CBC, urine studies, PT/PTT, and PFA-100 (Platelet Function Analyser-100). BMI ranged from 18 to 40 and BP ranged from 105 to 170 mm Hg systolic and 60 to 102 mm Hg diastolic. Desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) was routinely given if the GFR predicted Results Nine patients had postbiopsy hematoma formation on US but only two required transfusion. No patient experienced death, loss of a kidney, or need for surgical intervention. Of the patient-related variables collected, only 4-hour postprocedure MAP was found to be associated with bleeding complications (hematoma formation, p = .042; transfusion requirement p = .023). Of the procedure-related variables collected, only the number of passes was associated with bleeding complications (need for transfusion, p = .006). There was remarkable little correlation between bleeding risk and baseline characteristics. An abnormal PFA-100 did not affect any of the bleeding complications studied. Within the range of inclusion criteria, neither BMI nor baseline BP correlated with bleeding events. Risk of bleeding complications was not associated with GFR, suggesting that when DDAVP is routinely given if GFR Conclusion (1) Percutaneous kidney biopsy under direct US visualization remains a safe procedure under a wide range of BP and BMI variations and an essential element of nephrology training. (2) Most hematomas observed on US did not require transfusion. (3) Four-hour postbiopsy MAP correctly predicted hematoma formation and the need for blood transfusion. (4) Abnormal PFA-100 did not appear to predict bleeding in the current database.
Extrusion control for high quality printing on Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) systems

Abstract Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) is a large format additive manufacturing (AM) process. The size scale has enabled many new applications for AM. However, at this scale, lack of high print resolution and extruder flowrate control lead to potentially significant geometric deviations in the printed part. This paper examines strategies to improve geometric quality in BAAM parts. Multi-resolution printing, extrusion diversion, and feedforward extruder control are examined herein. These methods were all found to be effective in mitigating phenomena detrimental to geometric part quality on the BAAM process.
Joint Object Class Sequencing and Trajectory Triangulation (JOST)

We introduce the problem of joint object class sequencing and trajectory triangulation (JOST), which is defined as the reconstruction of the motion path of a class of dynamic objects through a scene from an unordered set of images. We leverage standard object detection techinques to identify object instances within a set of registered images. Each of these object detections defines a single 2D point with a corresponding viewing ray. The set of viewing rays attained from the aggregation of all detections belonging to a common object class is then used to estimate a motion path denoted as the object class trajectory. Our method jointly determines the topology of the objects motion path and reconstructs the 3D object points corresponding to our object detections. We pose the problem as an optimization over both the unknown 3D points and the topology of the path, which is approximated by a Generalized Minimum Spanning Tree (GMST) on a multipartite graph and then refined through a continuous optimization over the 3D object points. Experiments on synthetic and real datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our method and the feasibility to solve a previously intractable problem.
TWO NEW SEDGES (CAREX SECT. ACROCYSTIS, CYPERACEAE) FROM NORTHWESTERN MEXICO AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Carex bajacalifornica Zika is described from five populations in the mountains of northern Baja California, Mexico, in the Sierra de Juarez and Sierra de San Pedro Martir. It is distinguished from Carex rossii Boott by its short inflorescence bract, abbreviated perigynium beak shorter than the stipe, and nerved perigynium faces. Carex cryptosperma Zika, D.S. Bell, and L.J. Gross is described from 12 populations in southern California, in the San Bernardino, San Gabriel, and San Jacinto Mountains. Carex cryptosperma differs from Carex xerophila Janeway & Zika in its relatively short perigynium stipe and relatively long perigynium beak. The new species are illustrated and mapped, and a key is presented to members of Carex sect. Acrocystis in the states of California and Baja California.
Domestic Labor and the Crisis of Care in La tierra y la sombra and La Sirga

This chapter draws connections between domestic labor and the crisis of care in two recent Colombian films: La tierra y la sombra (2015), directed by Cesar Acevedo, and La Sirga (2012), directed by William Vega. It explores how these films make sense of the lack of care for those who are facing the consequences of a state that has continuously diminished its role as a social negotiator. By placing a special focus on domestic labor, Carosi argues that domestic workers in these films capture the nature of a humanitarian crisis taking place in countries like Colombia where political violence is closely linked to land appropriation and forced displacement.
The Anterior Lobe of the Hypophysis

Cells in the anlage of the anterior lobe of the pituitary differentiate very early in the human fetus. Basophilic cells can be identified by about the 8th week of gestation, and the acidophils are found 1–2 weeks later.(45) The fine structure of the fetal pituitary at about the 12th week is consistent with a gland that is producing and secreting hormone, and by the 18th week, the anterior lobe of the pituitary resembles the adult organ.(45) The human pituitary gland increases its weight 4-fold between the 10th and 24th weeks of gestation.(97) The anterior lobe of the pituitary in perinatal life contains five or more distinct cells,(142) which secrete at least six independent hormones. The development of more elaborate techniques of histochemistry, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy has permitted further validation of the concept that each major hormone of the pituitary is produced by a distinct cell type, the “one cell, one hormone theory.”(133)
Genomic Diagnosis for Pediatric Disorders: Revolution and Evolution

Powerful, recent advances in technologies to analyze the genome have had a profound impact on the practice of medical genetics, both in the laboratory and in the clinic. Increasing utilization of genome-wide testing such as chromosomal microarray analysis and exome sequencing have lead a shift toward a "genotype-first" approach. Numerous techniques are now available to diagnose a particular syndrome or phenotype, and while traditional techniques remain efficient tools in certain situations, higher-throughput technologies have become the de facto laboratory tool for diagnosis of most conditions. However, selecting the right assay or technology is challenging, and the wrong choice may lead to prolonged time to diagnosis, or even a missed diagnosis. In this review, we will discuss current core technologies for the diagnosis of classic genetic disorders to shed light on the benefits and disadvantages of these strategies, including diagnostic efficiency, variant interpretation, and secondary findings. Finally, we review upcoming technologies posed to impart further changes in the field of genetic diagnostics as we move toward "genome-first" practice.
Deficiency of plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 results in accelerated tumor growth.

Background Upregulation of the plasminogen activation system, including urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), has been observed in many malignancies, suggesting that co-opting the PA system is a common method by which tumor cells accomplish extracellular matrix proteolysis. PAI-2, a serine protease inhibitor, produced from the SERPINB2 gene, inhibits circulating and extracellular matrix-tethered uPA. Decreased SERPINB2 expression has been associated with increased tumor invasiveness and metastasis for several types of cancer. PAI-2 deficiency has not been reported in humans and PAI-2-deficient (SerpinB2-/- ) mice exhibit no apparent abnormalities. Objectives We investigated the role of PAI-2 deficiency on tumor growth and metastasis. Methods To explore the long-term impact of PAI-2 deficiency, a cohort of SerpinB2-/- mice were aged to >18 months, with spontaneous malignancies observed in 4/9 animals, all of apparently vascular origin. To further investigate the role of PAI-2 deficiency in malignancy, SerpinB2-/- and wild-type control mice were injected with either B16 melanoma or Lewis lung carcinoma tumor cells, with markedly accelerated tumor growth observed in SerpinB2-/- mice for both cell lines. To determine the relative contributions of PAI-2 from hematopoietic or nonhematopoietically derived sources, bone marrow transplants between wild-type C57BL/6J and SerpinB2-/- mice were performed. Results and conclusions Our results suggest that PAI-2 deficiency increases susceptibility to spontaneous tumorigenesis in the mouse, and demonstrate that SerpinB2 expression derived from a nonhematopoietic compartment is a key host factor in the regulation of tumor growth in both the B16 melanoma and Lewis lung carcinoma models.
Multi-megabar Dynamic Strength Measurements of Ta, Au, Pt, and Ir

Magnetic loading was used to shocklessly compress four different metals to extreme pressures. Velocimetry monitored the behavior of the material as it was loaded to a desired peak state and then decompressed back down to lower pressures. Two distinct analysis methods, including a wave profile analysis and a novel Bayesian calibration approach, were employed to estimate quantitative strength metrics associated with the loading reversal. Specifically, we report for the first time on strength estimates for tantalum, gold, platinum, and iridium under shockless compression at strain rates of $$\sim 5 \times 10^5$$ /s in the pressure range of $$\sim $$ 100–400 GPa. The magnitude of the shear stresses supported by the different metals under these extreme conditions are surprisingly similar, representing a dramatic departure from ambient conditions.
An optimized tissue clearing protocol for rat brain labeling, imaging, and high throughput analysis

Abstract The advent of whole brain clearing and imaging methods extends the breadth and depth at which brain-wide neural populations and structures can be studied. However, these methods have yet to be applied to larger brains, such as the brains of the common laboratory rat, despite the importance of these models in behavioral neuroscience research. Here we introduce AdipoClear+, an optimized immunolabeling and clearing methodology for application to adult rat brain hemispheres, and validate its application through the testing of common antibodies and electrode tract visualization. In order to extend the accessibility of this methodology for general use, we have developed an open source platform for the registration of rat brain volumes to standard brain atlases for high throughput analysis.
Outward Bound Instructors’ Experience of Stress: Storms, Students, and Role Strain

Background: Outward Bound (OB) provides experiential outdoor learning programs where students grow through overcoming challenges. Instructors leading these wilderness courses face numerous demands ...
Acortatarin A: Spiroketalization Methods and Synthesis

Abstract This chapter is a review of the literature on a small family of natural products named the acortatarins. Our interest in these compounds is largely due to their unique structure, which is a pyrrole-fused morpholine spiroketal. The isolation, structural assignment and later correction, biological activity, and syntheses of these molecules are presented. Although the compounds are not extremely complex, two structures were nevertheless incorrectly assigned (as well as correctly assigned in a less well-cited isolation paper!). With all the modern analytical tools at our disposal, incorrect assignments can and do still occur, and, this is a modern example of how synthetic chemistry was used to identify the errors and make the correct assignments. The progression of our research program toward the development of metal-catalyzed spiroketalization methods and our work on acortatarin A is described.
Judicial Challenges to Mandatory Minimum Sentences: A New Frontier in Debate over Child Pornography Sentencing?

Over the past decade, federal sentencing issues concerning child pornography have produced considerable legal debate, much of it focused on the application of federal sentencing guidelines as set forth by the United States Sentencing Commission (U.S.S.C.). Many judges have opined that the factors used to calculate the adjusted offense level for some child pornography offenses may be out of date, impracticable, and/or in conflict with 18 U.S.C. 3553(a), which requires, among other things, “just punishments.” Particular concerns have been expressed that strict application of the sentencing guidelines can produce results in which possessors of child pornography (i.e. those who commit less serious child pornography offenses as compared to producers or distributers) may be sentenced near the statutory maximum. This has caused some judges to inquire into the rationality of guidelines which they argue place even the less culpable offenders at the level of punishment reserved for the most serious of offenders.Recognizing these concerns, the Department of Justice has asked the United States Sentencing Commission to re-evaluate and update the current guidelines to “better calibrate the severity and culpability of defendants’ criminal conduct” and “ensure that the sentences for certain child exploitation offenses adequately reflect the seriousness of the crimes...[and] changes in the use of technology and in the way these crimes are regularly carried out today...” As the Sentencing Commission works to assess and resolve some of these concerns, some remain dissatisfied with the sentencing options for child pornography crimes. In response, some judges have attempted to wage a challenge on a new frontier: not the advisory sentencing guidelines, but the legislated mandatory minimum sentences. This article will examine this phenomenon and explore its potential vulnerabilities through an analysis of several recent cases, most notably the U.S. District Court opinion in United States v. C.R., issued in May 2011.
The effect of fatigue on cognitive and psychomotor skills of surgical residents

Surgical residents are exposed to a significant amount of cognitive load during call. While various efforts have been made to quantify the effect of fatigue and sleep deprivation on the psychomotor skills of surgical residents, there is very little investigations into the effect of these factors on cognitive skills. However, this is an important issue in medical curriculum design, as much of the medical errors are procedural in nature and are not psychomotor. In this paper, we present a study that aimed to quantify the effect of fatigue on cognitive skills. We employed hand movement data for developing a proficiency measure of surgical skill. The difference in proficiencies measured through hand movement post call and pre call was determined. The simulation tasks were designed to challenge working memory, attention of the user. The results showed a significant difference in hand movement proficiencies as well as behavioral errors pre and post-call. EEG Data was also gathered during simulation tasks pre and post call through the B-Alert® Bluetooth EEG technology. The B-Alert® software was analyzed to reveal ratings of alertness/drowsiness, engagement, mental workload and distraction. The results showed statistically significant difference in EEG ratings in pre call and post call condition.
Streptococcus pneumoniae Supragenome Hybridization Arrays for Profiling of Genetic Content and Gene Expression

There is extensive genomic diversity among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates. Approximately half of the comprehensive set of genes in the species (the supragenome or pangenome) is present in all the isolates (core set), and the remaining is unevenly distributed among strains (distributed set). The Streptococcus pneumoniae Supragenome Hybridization (SpSGH) array provides coverage for an extensive set of genes and polymorphisms encountered within this species, capturing this genomic diversity. Further, the capture is quantitative. In this manner, the SpSGH array allows for both genomic and transcriptomic analyses of diverse S. pneumoniae isolates on a single platform. In this unit, we present the SpSGH array, and describe in detail its design and implementation for both genomic and transcriptomic analyses. The methodology can be applied to construction and modification of SpSGH array platforms, as well to other bacterial species as long as multiple whole-genome sequences are available that collectively capture the vast majority of the species supragenome.
A Generalization of the Concept of $\omega$-Completeness

The concepts of ω-consistency and ω-completeness are closely related. The former concept has been generalized to notions of Γ- consistency and strong Γ- consistency , which are applicable not only to formal systems of number theory, but to all functional calculi containing individual constants; and in this general setting the semantical significance of these concepts has been studied. In the present work we carry out an analogous generalization for the concept of ω -completeness. Suppose, then, that F is an applied functional calculus, and that Γ is a non-empty set of individual constants of F . We say that F is Γ- complete if, whenever B(x) is a formula (containing the single free individual variable x ) such that ⊦ B (α) for every α in Γ, then also ⊦ (x)B(x) . In the paper “Γ-con” a sequence of increasingly strong concepts, Γ-consistency, n = 1,2, 3,…, was introduced; and it is possible in a formal way to define corresponding concepts of Γ n -completeness, as follows. We say that F is Γ n - complete if, whenever B(x 1 ,…, x n ) is a formula (containing exactly n distinct free variables, namely x 1 …, x n ) such that ⊦ B ( α 1 ,…, α n ) for all α 1 ,…, α n in Γ, then also ⊦ ( X 1 )…( x n ) B ( x 1 ,…, x n ). However, unlike the situation encountered in the paper “Γ-con”, these definitions are not of interest – for the simple reason that F is Γ n -complete if and only if it is Γ-complete, as one easily sees.
An optimization model for the extended role mining problem

The primary purpose of Role Mining is to effectively determine the roles in an enterprise using the permissions that have already been assigned to the users. If this permission assignment is viewed as a 0-1 matrix, then Role Mining aims to decompose this matrix into two matrices which represent user-role and role-permission assignments. This decomposition is known as Boolean Matrix Decomposition (BMD). In this paper, we use an Extended BMD (EBMD) to consider separation of duty constraints (SOD) and exceptions, that are common to any security system, in the role mining process. Essentially, in EBMD, we introduce negative assignments. An additional benefit of allowing negative assignments in roles is that, a less number of roles can be used to reconstruct the same given user-permission assignments. We introduce Extended Role Mining Problem and its variants and present their optimization models. We also propose a heuristic algorithm that is capable of utilizing these models to find good decompositions.
Large Scale Problem Solving Using Automatic Code Generation and Distributed Visualization

Scientific computation faces multiple scalability challenges in trying to take advantage of the latest generation compute, network and graphics hardware. We present a comprehensive approach to solving four important scalability challenges: programming productivity, scalability to large numbers of processors, I/O bandwidth, and interactive visualization of large data. We describe a scenario where our integrated system is applied in the field of numerical relativity. A solver for the governing Einstein equations is generated and executed on a large computational cluster; the simulation output is distributed onto a distributed data server, and finally visualized using distributed visualization methods and high-speed networks. A demonstration of this system was awarded first place in the IEEE SCALE 2009 Challenge.
Calculating the Chances

Should We Risk It? Exploring Environmental, Health, and Technological Problem Solving. Daniel M. Kammen and David M. Hassenzahl. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 1999. 424 pp. $39.50, £23.95. ISBN 0-691-00426-9. Kammen and Hassenzahl explore the nature and methods of risk analysis--and the relationship between science and policy--by critically examining and clearly explaining selected problems ranging from cancer susceptibility to airplane flights.
Encoded Archival Description: Data Quality and Analysis

In order to authenticate the meaning of collections and to preserve their evidentiary value, archivists create documents (finding aids) that describe the provenance and original order of the records (MacNeil, 1995). Metadata standards such as Encoded Archival Description (EAD) enable finding aids to be encoded, searched, and displayed online. However, recent research has begun to draw attention to problems with the quality of EAD finding aid data and metadata, and the encoding practices by which finding aids are created. Since the next frontier in archival description involves reusing finding aid data for advanced information visualization techniques that support additional ways of engaging with collections, there is a pressing need for further study of data quality and how it might impact information visualization. This work analyzes a set of 8729 finding aids aggregated by the Texas Archival Repository Online (TARO) using VADA, a visual analytic tool for finding aids. The results show previously unidentified problems that have significant impact on the ability to visualize this data. The paper explains how these problems relate to both EAD's design and the actual encoding practices of EAD, and provides recommendations for improving the quality of finding aid data.
The Behavior of Child Behavior Ratings: Measurement Structure of the Child Behavior Checklist across Time, Informants, and Child Gender:

Standardized rating scales are the most often used part of the multidimensional assessment of children's behavior. However, low cross-informant correlations raise concerns about the reliability and...
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Monitoring during Thyroid Surgery Normative Vagal and Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Electrophysiological Data

ObjectiveInjury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) remains a significant cause of morbidity during thyroid surgery. Intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) is being applied in many centers to facilitate nerve identification. The aim of this study was to elucidate normative human vagal and recurrent laryngeal nerve electromyograhic (EMG) parameters during standard IONM application.Study DesignA prospective IONM study conducted over an 8-month period. Internal review board (IRB) approval was obtained.SettingsDepartment of Otolaryngology, Division of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston.Subjects and MethodsAll patients who were scheduled for routine thyroid, parathyroid, or neck exploration surgery were invited to participate. All patients had a preoperative and postoperative laryngeal examination to assess vocal cord function. Any patient with an abnormal preoperative laryngeal examination was excluded.ResultsFifty-eight patients participated in this study. The rig...
A dynamic attribute-based data filtering and recovery scheme for web information processing

Web data being transmitted over a network channel on the Internet with excessive amount of data causes data processing problems, which include selectively choosing useful information to be retained for various data applications. In this paper, we present an approach for filtering less-informative attribute data from a source Website. A scheme for filtering attributes, instead of tuples (records), from a Website becomes imperative, since filtering a complete tuple would lead to filtering some informative, as well as less-informative, attribute data in the tuple. Since filtered data at the source Website may be of interest to the user at the destination Website, we design a data recovery approach that maintains the minimal amount of information for data recovery purpose while imposing minimal overhead for data recovery at the source Website. Our data filtering and recovery approach (1) handles a wide range of Web data in different application domains (such as weather, stock exchanges, Internet traffic, etc.), (2) is dynamic in nature, since each filtering scheme adjusts the amount of data to be filtered as needed, and (3) is adaptive, which is appealing in an ever-changing Internet environment.
A note on the linear and temporal stride kinematics of Olympic show jumping horses between two fences

Abstract The aims of this study were to describe the temporal and linear stride kinematics of horses within a two-stride combination of fences and to make comparisons between the first and second intermediate strides. Video recordings (60 Hz) were made of eight horses jumping two vertical fences that were 1.47 and 1.51 m high. The fences were separated by a distance of 10.96 m, which was sufficient for two non-jumping strides. The video images were digitised using a computerised gait analysis system and custom software. The following kinematic variables were measured: stride length (m), step lengths (m), stride duration (s), step durations (s) and velocity (m/s). The results showed that the two intermediate strides had similar velocities, but the second intermediate stride had significantly shorter stride length and stride duration. Compared with published descriptions of horses jumping a single fence of similar size, the first intermediate stride resembled the first departure stride and the second intermediate stride resembled the final approach stride. The stride lengths of the two intermediate strides showed low inter-horse variability, but the step lengths were much more variable indicating that different horses achieved similar stride lengths using different combinations of step lengths.
Normal serum glutamic oxalaetic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels in albino mice

Abstract 1. 1. Normal serum glutamic oxalacetic transminase (SGOT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) levels were determined in albino mice. 2. 2. The SGOT range of activity for 330 apparently healthy adult mice was 30–380 units/ml serum, with a mean of 148 and standard error of 3·3. 3. 3. For AP, the range of activity for 306 apparently normal adult mice was 10–210 mU/ml (international milliunits/ml), with a mean of 67 and a standard error of 1·7. 4. 4. The means and range for the normal activity of both enzymes in mouse serum were considerably higher than those obtained for human serum analyzed using the same analytical procedures.
Advances in field-based studies of primate behavioral endocrinology

The papers in this issue were inspired by a symposium we organized for the 27th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists, held in June 2004. The purpose of the symposium was to highlight some of the new ways in which noninvasive techniques for measuring steroids are being employed to investigate the relationships between hormones and behavior in wild primates. Endocrinological data from the field provide new insights and more precise interpretations of behavioral data on topics ranging from social and reproductive strategies to seasonality, reproductive suppression, concealed ovulation, and development. Advances in the development of methods for extracting steroids from urine and feces have increased the options available to field workers, who can now select the most appropriate methodology for their study subjects, field conditions, and specific research questions. Field-based studies of behavioral endocrinology have spread to include a wide diversity of primate species. As the scope of these studies continues to grow, we anticipate the emergence of a dynamic new field in which comparative models of primate behavioral endocrinology contribute new perspectives on primates.
A stochastic approach for non-rigid image registration

This note describes a non-rigid image registration approach that parametrizes the deformation field by an additive composition of a similarity transformation and a set of Gaussian radial basis functions. The bases’ centers, variances, and weights are determined with a global optimization approach that is introduced in this work. This approach consists of simulated annealing with a particle filter based generator function to perform the optimization. Additionally, a local refinement is performed to capture the remaining misalignment. The deformation is constrained to be physically meaningful (i.e., invertible). Results on 2D and 3D data sets demonstrate the algorithm’s robustness to large deformations.
Effects of a saddle shaped annulus on mitral valve function and chordal force distribution: an in vitro study.

Studies have concluded that the shape of the human mitral valve annulus is a three-dimensional saddle. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a saddle shaped annulus on chordal force distribution and mitral valve function. Eleven human mitral valves were studied in a physiological left heart simulator with a variable shaped annulus (flat versus saddle). Cardiac output and transmitral pressure were analyzed to determine mitral regurgitation volume. In six experiments, force transducers were placed on six chordae tendineae to measure chordal force distribution. Valves were tested in normal and pathophysiologic papillary muscle positions. When comparing the flat and saddle shaped configurations, there was no significant difference in mitral regurgitation volume 11.2% ± 24.7% (p=0.17). In the saddle shaped configuration, the tension on the anterior strut chord was reduced 18.5% #x00B1 16.1% (p < 0.02), the tension on the posterior intermediate chord increased 22.3% #x00B1 17.1% (p < 0.03), and the tension of the commissural chord increased 59.0% #x00B1 32.2% (p < 0.01). Annular shape also altered the tensions on the remaining chords. Annular shape alone does not significantly affect mitral regurgitation caused by papillary muscle displacement. A saddle shaped annulus redistributes the forces on the chords by altering coaptation geometry, leading to an optimally balanced anatomic/physiologic configuration. © 2003 Biomedical Engineering Society.
Leukocytosis in Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Purpose The purpose of this investigation is to assess the level of leukocytosis in acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Background Limited data exist regarding leukocytosis in acute PE. One reason that the prevalence of leukocytosis in acute PE is unknown, despite an extensive number of investigations of PE, may relate to the fact that acute PE is usually associated with other conditions that themselves may cause leukocytosis. Methods Hospital records of 386 patients with a diagnosis of acute PE were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with no other possible or definite cause of leukocytosis were analyzed separately. A diagnosis of PE was made by a high-probability interpretation of the ventilation/perfusion lung scan or pulmonary angiogram. Results Among patients with PE in whom other possible or defined causes for leukocytosis were eliminated, 52 of 266 (20%) had a WBC count > 10,000/mm 3 . None had a WBC count that was≥ 20,000/mm 3 . Patients with the pulmonary hemorrhage/infarction syndrome had an increased WBC count in 32 of 183 (17%) vs 20 of 83 (24%) in patients who did not have pulmonary hemorrhage/infarction syndrome (not significant). Conclusion A modest leukocytosis may accompany (and possibly be caused by) PE. Its presence should not dissuade the clinician from objectively pursuing the diagnosis of PE.
Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels and glycemic control: the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Diabetes registry∗

PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of selfmonitoring blood glucose levels to improve glycemic control. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cohort design was used to assess the relation between self-monitoring frequency (1996 average daily glucometer strip utilization) and the first glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA 1c) level measured in 1997. The study sample included 24,312 adult patients with diabetes who were members of a large, group model, managed care organization. We estimated the difference between HbA 1c levels in patients who self-monitored at frequencies recommended by the American Diabetes Association compared with those who monitored less frequently or not at all. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race, education, occupation, income, duration of diabetes, medication refill adherence, clinic appointment “no show” rate, annual eye exam attendance, use of nonpharmacological (diet and exercise) diabetes therapy, smoking, alcohol consumption, hospitalization and emergency room visits, and the number of daily insulin injections. RESULTS: Self-monitoring among patients with type 1 diabetes ($3 times daily) and pharmacologically treated type 2 diabetes (at least daily) was associated with lower HbA 1c levels (1.0 percentage points lower in type 1 diabetes and 0.6 points lower in type 2 diabetes) than was less frequent monitoring (P ,0.0001). Although there are no specific recommendations for patients with nonpharmacologically treated type 2 diabetes, those who practiced self-monitoring (at any frequency) had a 0.4 point lower HbA1c level than those not practicing at all (P ,0.0001). CONCLUSION: More frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose levels was associated with clinically and statistically better glycemic control regardless of diabetes type or therapy. These findings support the clinical recommendations suggested by the American Diabetes Association. Am J Med. 2001;111:1‐9. q2001 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.
Special Education Litigation Update: Implications for School Administrators

The participation and inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education setting has steadily increased over the past several years, facilitated in part by the amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Providing students with disabilities a free appropriate public education in this setting has proved to be challenging. In this article we provide an overview of recent case law in the areas of discipline, residential placements, parental rights, and compensatory education. Implications for practice are also provided.
Developing tools for risk assessment in protected species: relative potencies inferred from competitive binding of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons to aryl hydrocarbon receptors from beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) and mouse.

Persistent organic pollutants such as halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) biomagnify in food webs and accumulate to high concentrations in top predators like odontocete cetaceans (toothed whales). The most toxic HAHs are the 2,3,7,8-substituted halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans, and nonortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which exert their effects via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). Understanding the impact of HAHs in wildlife is limited by the lack of taxon-specific information about the relative potencies of toxicologically important congeners. To assess whether Toxic Equivalency Factors (TEFs) determined in rodents are predictive of HAH relative potencies in a cetacean, we used beluga and mouse AHRs expressed in vitro from cloned cDNAs to measure the relative AHRbinding affinities of ten HAHs from five different structural classes. The rank order of mean IC50s for competitive binding to beluga AHR was: TCDD < TCDF < PCB-126 < PCB-169 < PCB-77 < PCB-81 ≪ PCB156 ∼ PCB-128 < PCB-105 < PCB-118. The rank order of mean IC50s for binding to the mouse AHR was TCDD < TCDF < PCB-126 < PCB-169 < PCB-81 < PCB-77 < PCB-156 � PCB-128 ∼ PCB-105 ∼ PCB-118. Ki values for binding of HAHs to beluga and mouse AHRs were highly correlated (r 2 = 0.96). Comparison of Ki values suggested that the beluga AHR had a higher affinity than the mouse AHR for most of the HAHs tested, consistent with the ∼2-fold higher [3H]TCDD binding affinity determined previously. These results are consistent with the World Health Organization mammalian TEFs for non- and mono-ortho PCB congeners. The comparatively high HAH binding affinities of the beluga AHR relative to those of an AHR from a dioxin-responsive mouse suggests that beluga, and perhaps cetaceans in general, may be particularly sensitive to the toxic effects of AHR agonists. Further study is warranted in order to more fully address this important question affecting protected and endangered species.
A temporal approach to anterior communicating artery aneurysms. Technical note.

✓ As an alternative to approaching anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms through the frontal fossa, either parasagittally or laterally (pterional, gyrus rectus approach), this report describes an approach to ACoA aneurysms through the temporal fossa. The main advantages of this temporal technique are that it requires less brain retraction, gives better surgical orientation, gains control of both A1 segments before disturbing the aneurysm, and involves minimal resection of brain tissue. This temporal approach has recently been used by the author in 20 consecutive operations for ACoA aneurysms in preference to the gyrus rectus approach.
Scaling behavior in electrical transport across grain boundaries in YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 − δ superconductors

We have found that the product of the critical current and the resistance of a grain-boundary junction scale with the resistance of the boundary. This scaling is observed to hold for a variety of samples prepared by evaporation or laser ablation and whose critical current density varies by three orders of magnitude.
Primary lymphoma of the appendix. Case report and review of the literature.

Abstract Malignant lymphomas comprise 1–4% of the malignant neoplasms of the gastro-intestinal tract, but appendiceal lymphomas are exceedingly rare. Herein is presented a case of a well differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma of the appendix found incidentally at hernia repair. Forty-six cases of appendiceal lymphoma have been reported since 1898 with a mean patient age of 25.7 years. Thirty-one patients presented with right lower quadrant pain, and a mass was an incidental finding in five. Of the 46 cases, follow-up was possible in 28. There were four deaths within 30 days of the operation and five deaths within 1 year. Although extensive follow-up is limited, there have been only two reported deaths secondary to primary appendiceal lymphoma since 1945 and these two cases are discussed in detail. Based on this extensive review, appropriate recommendations are made.
Deadwood in configuration spaces. II. Singles + doubles and singles + doubles + triples + quadruples spaces

The effect of truncating singles + doubles configuration interaction (CISD) and singles + doubles + triples + quadruples (CISDTQ) spaces on the energies of the systems Ne, H2O, CO and C2 is investigated through the use of a previously described, general, selected CI program. CI expansions generated by Hartree–Fock orbitals as well as by natural orbitals are examined and the latter typically exhibit faster convergence as regards the energy. For the CISD wavefunctions of Ne, H2O, CO and C2, chemical accuracy is reached by using, respectively, 34, 47, 53 and 55% of the full sets. For the triples + quadruples parts of the wavefunctions on the other hand, chemical accuracy is already reached by using only 1, 4, 6 and 9% of the respective full sets.
Development of a real-time PCR genotyping assay to identify high oleic acid peanuts ( Arachis hypogaea L.)

Oleic acid, a monounsaturated, omega-9 fatty acid found in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) oil is an important seed quality trait because it provides increased shelf life, improved flavor, enhanced fatty acid composition, and has a beneficial effect on human health. Hence, a concentrated effort has been put forth on developing peanut cultivars that have high oleic acid (>74%) and a low amount (<10%) of linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid. A main bottleneck, however, in breeding research is fast selection of the trait(s) of interest. Therefore, in an effort to expedite breeding efforts, a real-time PCR genotyping assay was developed to rapidly identify the wild type and the mutant allele that are responsible for normal or high levels of oleic acid, respectively in peanut seeds. This test utilizes two TaqMan® probes to detect the presence of an indel (insertion/deletion) in FAD2B and can be employed on DNA extracted from either seeds or leaves. The presence of the insertion (mutant allele) in fad2B causes a frameshift downstream in the coding sequence that ultimately alters the mRNA transcript level, and thus, decreases the activity of microsomal oleoyl-PC desaturase enzyme which converts oleic acid (C18:1) to linoleic acid (C18:2). Validation of the real-time assay was carried out by quantitatively evaluating the fatty acid composition by gas chromatography (GC). Overall, this real-time PCR assay facilitates the identification of progeny carrying the high oleic acid alleles, and thus, allows early elimination of undesirable non-high oleic acid lines in segregating populations.
In vitro characterization of the HSV-1 UL53 gene product

Abstract The UL53 gene is the locus altered in many syncytial mutants of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). However, the protein encoded by this gene has not been characterized. In this study, the UL53 protein was produced by in vitro translation of in vitro-transcribed UL53 RNA. Post-translational processing of the protein was studied by translation in the presence of pancreatic microsomal membranes. These microsomes carry out the processing steps that normally occur in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The unprocessed protein had an apparent molecular weight of 27K, whereas the microsomally processed form had an apparent molecular weight of 36K. Two types of post-translational modification were detected: Addition of N-linked oligosaccharides and cleavage of an N-terminal signal sequence. N-linked glycosylation occurred in the first 112 residues of the protein, consistent with the presence of N-linked glycosylation signals at residues 48 and 58. Signal sequence cleavage occurred after residue 30. A membrane-binding, possibly transmembrane, domain was found between residues 113 and 170, probably consisting of the hydrophobic sequence 125–139. These results establish that the N-terminal domain of the UL53 protein, which is the site of those syncytial mutations that have been sequenced, is on the interior side of the microsomal membranes, which is topologically equivalent to the lumen of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and to the extracellular side of the plasma membrane. Additional hydrophobic, possibly transmembrane, domains exist nearer the C-terminus of the protein. It also was found that the in vitro-translated UL53 protein aggregated when heated, even in the presence of SIDS. This property was mapped to the C-terminal one-third of the protein.
Increased Twist expression in advanced stage of mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome.

Background: The mechanisms of tumor progression in mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary syndrome (SS) are poorly understood. Twist, a transcription factor, is thought to promote solid tumor progression by blocking p53 and inhibiting c-myc-induced apoptosis. Whether Twist expression is correlated to MF/SS stages remains unknown. Methods: Twist, c-myc and p53 proteins in 68 MF/SS lesions across all T stages were examined by immunohistochemistry, and mRNA levels in peripheral blood CD4+ T-cells from SS patients were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Positive staining for Twist was found in 12.5% (2/16) of T1 and 33.3% (7/21) of T2 early stage patches/plaques compared to 50.0% (9/18) of T3 tumors and 84.6% (11/13) of T4 erythroderma. Most T4 erythroderma were positive for Twist in dermal lymphocytes, with the strongest staining. Positive staining for c-myc was higher in T3/T4 lesions (29/31, 93.5%) than T1/T2 lesions (25/37, 67.6%, p < 0.05), with strongest staining in T3 tumors. Aberrant p53 expression was more common in T3/T4 lesions (8/31, 25.8%) than in T1/T2 lesions (2/37, 5.4%, p < 0.05). Twist mRNA was detected in all CD4+ T cells from SS patients but not in normal donors. Conclusions: Increased Twist protein expression in advanced MF/SS lesions suggests that Twist expression may correlate with MF/SS stages. Goswami M, Duvic M, Dougherty A, Ni X. Increased Twist expression in advanced stage of mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome.