cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An atypical case of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis with co-inheritance of a variably penetrant POLG1 mutation

The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs, or Batten disease) comprise the most common Mendelian form of childhood-onset neurodegeneration, but the functions of the known underlying gene products remain poorly understood. The clinical heterogeneity of these disorders may shed light on genetic interactors that modify disease onset and progression. We describe a proband with congenital hypotonia and an atypical form of infantile-onset, biopsy-proven NCL. Pathologic and molecular work-up of this patient identified CLN5 mutations as well as a mutation―previously described as incompletely penetrant or a variant of unknown significance―in POLG1, a nuclear gene essential for maintenance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number. The congenital presentation of this patient is far earlier than that described for either CLN5 patients or affected carriers of the POLG1 variant (c.1550 G > T, p.Gly517Val). Assessment of relative mtDNA copy number and mitochondrial membrane potential in the proband and control subjects suggested a pathogenic effect of the POLG1 change as well as a possible functional interaction with CLN5 mutations. These findings suggest that an incompletely penetrant variant in POLG1 may modify the clinical phenotype in a case of CLN5 and are consistent with emerging evidence of interactions between NCL-related genes and mitochondrial physiology.
Second‐Order Analysis of Semiparametric Recurrent Event Processes

A typical recurrent event dataset consists of an often large number of recurrent event processes, each of which contains multiple event times observed from an individual during a followup period. Such data have become increasingly available in medical and epidemiological studies. In this paper, we introduce novel procedures to conduct second-order analysis for a flexible class of semiparametric recurrent event processes. Such an analysis can provide useful information regarding the dependence structure within each recurrent event process. Specifically, we will use the proposed procedures to test whether the individual recurrent event processes are all Poisson processes and to suggest sensible alternative models for them if they are not. We apply these procedures to a well-known recurrent event dataset on chronic granulomatous disease and an epidemiological dataset on Meningococcal disease cases in Merseyside, UK to illustrate their practical value.
Effect of Structure on Electron Transfer Reactions between Anthracene Dyes and TiO2 Nanoparticles

Photoinduced electron transfer to TiO2 nanoparticles has been examined for the 1-, 2-, and 9-isomers of anthracenecarboxylic acid. TiO2 samples with either anatase or amorphous crystal structures w...
Insulin sensitizers in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis: Current status

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), first described in 1980, is now recognized as one of the most common causes of elevated liver enzymes and chronic liver disease in Western countries. The incidence of NAFLD in both adults and children is rising, in conjunction with the burgeoning epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. NAFLD often coexists with other sequelae of the metabolic syndrome: central obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. NAFLD encompasses a spectrum of pathologic liver diseases ranging from simple hepatic steatosis to a predominant lobular necro-inflammation, with or without centrilobular fibrosis (called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH). NASH can progress to cirrhosis, decompensated liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Though the natural history of NASH is still not clearly defined, it has been observed to progress to cirrhosis in 15%-220% of those affected. Insulin resistance is nearly universal in NASH and is thought to play an important role in its pathogenesis leading to dysregulated lipid metabolism. The prevalence of insulin resistance is reported in the general population to be approaching 45%, suggesting that NAFLD and NASH will contin nue to be an important public health concern. To date, NASH has proven to be a difficult disease to treat. Front-line therapy with lifestyle modifications resulting in weight loss through decreased caloric intake and moderate exercise is generally believed to be beneficial in patients with NASH, but is often difficult to maintain long term. Given that insulin resistance plays a dominant role in the pathogenesis, many studies have examined the use of insulin sensitizers: the biguanides (metformin), thiazolidinediones (pioglitazone, troglitazone, and rosiglitazone), glucagon-like peptide-1-receptor agonists, or incretins (exenatide)in NASH. This review will provide an overview of insulin resistance in NAFLD and provide a detailed summary on the clinical data regarding the use of insulin sensitizers in NASH.
Characteristics of improved microwave interstitial antennas for local hyperthermia.

The heating potentials of two newly-developed microwave interstitial antennas are reported in this paper. The longitudinal (parallel to the antenna) and transverse (over a plane perpendicular to the antenna) specific absorption rate (SAR) distributions of single and an array of four parallel antennas were measured in a muscle equivalent phantom and their performance characterized at 915 MHz in terms of the following parameters: peak depth (location of the profile peak with respect to the surface), 50% HL (effective heating length over which SAR > 50% of the peak normalized SAR), dead length (axial length at the antenna tip with SAR < 50% of peak normalized SAR), and the variations of the specific absorption rate pattern relative to the depth of insertion. The results are analyzed and discussed in terms of these parameters and other factors important in the clinical use of these antennas for effective interstitial hyperthermia.
Intracellular Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 (mGluR5) Activates Signaling Cascades Distinct from Cell Surface Counterparts

G-protein-coupled receptors are thought to transmit extracellular signals to the cytoplasm from their position on the cell surface. Some receptors, including the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5), are also highly expressed on intracellular membranes where they serve unknown functions. Here, we show that activation of cell surface versus intracellular mGluR5 results in unique Ca2+ signatures leading to unique cellular responses. Specifically, activation of either cell surface or intracellular mGluR5 leads to JNK, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK), and cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate-responsive element-binding protein phosphorylation, whereas activation of only intracellular mGluR5 leads to ERK1/2 and Elk-1 phosphorylation. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches, the present findings support a role for CaMK kinase in mediating mGluR5-dependent cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate-responsive element-binding protein phosphorylation, whereas CaMKII is upstream of intracellular mGluR5-mediated Elk-1 phosphorylation. Consistent with models showing Elk-1 regulating cascades of gene expression, the known Elk-1 targets c-fos and egr1 were up-regulated following intracellular mGluR5 activation, whereas a representative non-Elk-1 target, c-jun, was not. These findings emphasize that glutamate not only serves as a neurotransmitter for cell surface receptors but, when transported into the cell, can also activate intracellular receptors such as mGluR5. Glutamate activation of intracellular mGluR5 serves an important role in the regulation of nuclear Ca2+, transcriptional activation, and gene expression necessary for physiological processes such as synaptic plasticity.
Metabolic effects of naphthalene, toluene or phenol intoxication in the cichlid fish tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus: Changes in aminotrasferase activities

Abstract Exposure of the cichlid fish tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, to acutely stressful (96-h LC50) levels of naphthalene, toluene or phenol for 4 days did not produce any change in the activities of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases in liver or muscle. However, the stress of 10 weeks exposure to chronically sublethal (50% 24-h LC50) concentrations of the hydrocarbons stimulated the enzyme activities in both the tissues. This change was accompanied in some groups by reduced tissue levels of soluble proteins and free amino acids, suggesting increased tissue proteolysis in these sublethally stressed tilapia.
Prevalence of extended spectrum β-lactamase producing escherichia coli and klebsiella isolates in a large community teaching hospital in connecticut

The prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (ESC) and Klebsiella (KS) among consecutive non-urine isolates were evaluated. Twenty-four of 392 isolates produced ESBLs. Among these half were from respiratory sites and all were susceptible to meropenem. Pulse field-gel electrophoresis (PFGE) showed 12 clonally distinct ESBLs and iso-electric focusing (IEF) revealed that most (83%) produced multiple enzymes.
In vivo effects of horse and rabbit antithymocyte globulin in patients with severe aplastic anemia.

We recently reported that rabbit antithymocyte globulin was markedly inferior to horse antithymocyte globulin as a primary treatment for severe aplastic anemia. Here we expand on our findings in this unique cohort of patients. Rabbit antithymocyte globulin was detectable in plasma for longer periods than horse antithymocyte globulin; rabbit antithymocyte globulin in plasma retained functional capacity to bind to lymphocytes for up to 1 month, horse antithymocyte globulin for only about 2 weeks. In the first week after treatment there were much lower numbers of neutrophils in patients treated with rabbit antithymocyte globulin than in patients receiving horse antithymocyte globulin. Both antithymocyte globulins induced a “cytokine storm” in the first 2 days after administration. Compared with horse antithymocyte globulin, rabbit antithymocyte globulin was associated with higher levels of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 4 during the first 3 weeks. Besides a much lower absolute number and a lower relative frequency of CD4+ T cells, rabbit antithymocyte globulin induced higher frequencies of CD4+CD38+, CD3+CD4−CD8− T cells, and B cells than did horse antithymocyte globulin. Serum sickness occurred around 2 weeks after infusion of both types of antithymocyte globulin. Human anti-antithymocyte globulin antibodies, especially of the IgM subtype, correlated with serum sickness, which appeared concurrently with clearance of antithymocyte globulin in blood and with the production of cytokines. In conclusion, rabbit and horse antithymocyte globulins have very different pharmacokinetics and effects on neutrophils, lymphocyte subsets, and cytokine release. These differences may be related to their efficacy in suppressing the immune system and restoring hematopoiesis in bone marrow failure. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00260689.
Computer-generated maps as an aid to mosquito control (Diptera: Culicidae).

The use of computer-generated maps to aid in mosquito control was studied by evaluating the interrelationships among vector population densities, an urban storm-sewer system, and mosquito control measures in Houston, Texas, USA. Contour maps created with the SYMAP program were used to show spatial distributions in the population densities of female Culex quinquefasciatus . The resolution of the contour maps was sufficient to allow the following associations to be recognized. Populations of Cx. quinquefasciatus are not uniformly distributed throughout the storm sewers; there tends to be a clustering of this species predominantly in the older residential areas. The presence of Cx. quinquefasciatus in the storm sewers is not related to the socioeconomic status of the neighborhoods. There was no marked association between the relatively large vector populations and St. Louis encephalitis virus activity. Computer mapping would make mosquito control operations for managers more efficient by assessing strategies and control measures and would allow a more effective use of insecticides.
Beyond LDL Cholesterol in Assessing Cardiovascular Risk: apo B or LDL-P?

Plasma concentrations of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C)4 are positively associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. There is a variety of robust evidence indicating that this association is causal in nature. First, rare and common genetic variants that specifically influence LDL-C concentrations are also strongly associated with cardiovascular risk (1). Second, interventions that reduce LDL-C, especially but not exclusively statin therapy, reproducibly reduce cardiovascular events (2). In fact, the data with statins are so strong that they are often used in patients whose LDL-C concentrations are not particularly increased, a setting in which statins have still been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk. Thus there is substantial interest in lipoprotein-related biomarkers that provide information about future cardiovascular risk above and beyond LDL-C itself. LDL contains a core of hydrophobic lipid, mostly cholesteryl ester, a shell of phospholipids, and single molecule of the large protein apolipoprotein B-100 (apo B). It has long been appreciated that LDL particles vary in size and density, which is largely due to variation in the amount of cholesteryl ester in the particle (3). Because the LDL-C measurement is a measure of the amount of cholesterol being carried in LDL, it is not a reliable measure of LDL particle concentration: small, dense LDL particles have much less cholesterol than large, buoyant LDL particles. Interestingly, however, there is evidence that small, dense LDL may be more atherogenic, which has led to the concept that the overall number of LDL particles may be more predictive of cardiovascular risk than the LDL-C concentration itself (3). Several methods have emerged that allow a more direct quantification of the number of LDL particles. Because an LDL particle contains a single molecule of apo B, it is possible to directly estimate the number of particles through a simple measurement of apo B …
New upper bounds on the rate of a code via the Delsarte-MacWilliams inequalities

With the Delsarte-MacWilliams inequalities as a starting point, an upper bound is obtained on the rate of a binary code as a function of its minimum distance. This upper bound is asymptotically less than Levenshtein's bound, and so also Elias's.
Exogenous isoprene modulates gene expression in unstressed Arabidopsis thaliana plants

Isoprene is a well-studied volatile hemiterpene that protects plants from abiotic stress through mechanisms that are not fully understood. The antioxidant and membrane stabilizing potential of isoprene are the two most commonly invoked mechanisms. However, isoprene also affects phenylpropanoid metabolism, suggesting an additional role as a signalling molecule. In this study, microarray-based gene expression profiling reveals transcriptional reprogramming of Arabidopsis thaliana plants fumigated for 24 h with a physiologically relevant concentration of isoprene. Functional enrichment analysis of fumigated plants revealed enhanced heat- and light-stress-responsive processes in response to isoprene. Isoprene induced a network enriched in ERF and WRKY transcription factors, which may play a role in stress tolerance. The isoprene-induced up-regulation of phenylpropanoid biosynthetic genes was specifically confirmed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. These results support a role for isoprene as a signalling molecule, in addition to its possible roles as an antioxidant and membrane thermoprotectant.
Securing Ad Hoc Wireless Networks Against Data Injection Attacks Using Firewalls

The authors propose to secure ad hoc networks against data injection attacks by placing firewall functionality at strategic locations in the ad hoc network. The authors first show that, given the locations of attackers and victims, the problem of placement of firewall functionality at a fixed number of ad hoc nodes while minimizing the impact of the data injection attack is identical to the k-coverage problem, this problem is known to be NP-hard. Then, the authors develop a near-optimal approximate algorithm for placing firewall functions. The authors also incorporate the loss behavior of wireless links in our algorithm. Next, the authors develop an architecture to determine the location of the attackers. Our architecture uses a separate control network (a cellular network in this paper) in conjunction with ad hoc networks to provide a provable attack detection mechanism. The authors evaluate our firewall placement algorithm for various topologies obtained from ns-2 simulations. Our results show that our algorithm can find near-optimal solutions. Based on a simple analysis and measurement results, the authors also find that the overhead of our provable attack detection mechanism is low.
Catholic Church History: One Hundred Years of the Discipline

This article provides a general survey of developments over the past 100 years in the study of the history of the Catholic Church. It therefore provides the context for the other contributions in the issue, which deal with particular epochs or cultures. Included in it, for instance, are listings and analyses of major instruments of research such as encyclopedias, descriptions of shifts in historical method, assessments of the impact upon historians of events like the First and the Second Vatican Councils, and discussions of the vocation of Catholic historians of the Church.
Monitoring tumor cell proliferation by targeting DNA synthetic processes with thymidine and thymidine analogs

The use of radiolabeled thymidine (TdR) and thymidine analogs as PET-based tracers of tumor growth rate is based on the assumption that measurement of uptake of these nucleosides, a function primarily of thymidine kinase-1 (TK1) activity, provides an accurate measure of active cell proliferation in tumors. The goal of this study was to test this hypothesis and determine how well these tracers track changes in proliferation of tumor cells. Methods: TK1 activity; S-phase fraction; and uptake of TdR, 3′-deoxy-3′-fluorothymidine (FLT), and 2′-fluoro-5-methyl-1-(β-D-2-arabino-furanosyl) uracil (FMAU) were determined in plateau-phase and exponentially growing cultures of 3 human and 3 murine tumor cell lines. Results: TK1 activity and S-phase fraction increased in all cell lines as cells moved from plateau-phase conditions to exponential growth. Some cell lines had relatively large TK1 activities and S-phase fractions under plateau-phase conditions, consistent with a loss of normal cell cycle checkpoint control in these cells. There were also 2 cell lines in which TK1 activity changed little as cells moved from the plateau phase to exponential growth, suggesting that in these cell lines, de novo nucleotide synthesis pathways predominate over salvage pathways. Both TdR and FLT detected changes in TK1 activity. The slope of the relationship between TdR uptake and TK1 activity was nearly twice that for FLT and more than 40-fold that for FMAU. Conclusion: Although not all tumors show a strong TK1 dependence of proliferation, in all cell lines for which proliferation is highly TK1 dependent, phosphorylation of TdR or FLT accurately reflects changes in TK1 enzyme activity.
Comparison of age, sex, and incidence rates in human and canine breast cancer

A 5-year collection of cases of human breast cancer in males and females from the Alameda County Tumor Registry and a 5-year collection of canine cases from the Alameda-Contra Costa Counties Animal Neoplasm Registry were compared on age distribution, crude and age-adjusted incidence rates, and agespecific incidence rate pattern. To facilitate comparisons, ages of dogs were converted to human equivalents. The median ages and overall proportional distribution by age were in close agreement for the 2 sexes of both species. When canine and human incidence were adjusted to the same population distribution, canine age-adjusted incidence rates were 3 times larger in females and 16 times larger in males. Female age-specific rates increased at the same magnitude for both species until the start of the ages of natural menopause in women; then the human rates continued to increase, but slowly, while the canine rates continued to increase at approximately the same exponential value as in the younger age groups. Important similarities and differences between species that may affect breast cancer risk are discussed in the context of the natural history of human breast cancer.
Interleukin-1β induced vascular permeability is dependent on induction of endothelial Tissue Factor (TF) activity

IL-1β is a pleotropic cytokine that may mediate increased procoagulant activity and permeability in endothelial tissue during inflammatory conditions. The procoagulant effects of IL-1β are mediated through induction of tissue factor (TF) but its alterations on vascular permeability are not well characterized. We found that IL-1β induced a rapid and dose-dependent increase in TF activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECs) under routine culture conditions. However, IL-1β caused a rapid and marked increase in permeability across confluent EC monolayers using a two-compartment in vitro model only in the presence of factor VIII-deficient plasma that was completely abrogated by neutralizing anti-TF antibody pre-treatment. In vitro permeability was associated with loss of EC surface expression of VE-cadherin and contraction of F-actin cytoskeletal elements that resulted in EC intercellular gap formation. These data demonstrate that IL-1β induces marked changes in permeability across activated endothelium via a TF dependent mechanism and suggest that modulation of TF activity may represent a strategy to treat various acute and chronic inflammatory conditions mediated by this cytokine.
Cognitive sources of evidence for neuroticism's link to punishment-reactivity processes

Theories of neuroticism emphasise its close potential link to punishment-reactivity processes, yet cognitive sources of evidence for this proposed processing basis are surprisingly scarce. The present two studies (N = 123) sought to rectify this important gap in the literature in terms of reactivity to error feedback. Study 1 found that individuals high in neuroticism were faster to switch behavioural responses following errors, whereas an opposite pattern was found among individuals low in neuroticism. Study 2 extended this error-reactivity perspective to the realm of behavioural decision making. Individuals high in neuroticism switched their behavioural predictions following error feedback, whereas this tendency was non-significant among individuals low in neuroticism. Together, the studies present novel, but theory-informed, cognitive paradigms for assessing punishment-reactivity processes, confirm neuroticism's link to such processes, and do so in the realms of both reaction time (Study 1) and behavio...
Numerical Methods for the Vector-Valued Solutions of Non-smooth Eigenvalue Problems

In this article, we address the numerical solution of non-smooth eigenvalue problems coming from continuum mechanics. These problems have applications in plasticity theory, since the smallest eigenvalue of the non-smooth operators under consideration appears in the estimation of the cut-off time of some Bingham flows. Three vector-valued eigenvalue problems are investigated. The case of divergence free functions is included. Piecewise linear finite elements are used for the discretization of the eigenfunctions. An augmented Lagrangian method is proposed for the solution of the associated non-convex optimization problem. Numerical solutions are presented for the first eigenpair of these problems and convergence orders are discussed.
Mapping functional transcription factor networks from gene expression data.

A critical step in understanding how a genome functions is determining which transcription factors (TFs) regulate each gene. Accordingly, extensive effort has been devoted to mapping TF networks. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, protein–DNA interactions have been identified for most TFs by ChIP-chip, and expression profiling has been done on strains deleted for most TFs. These studies revealed that there is little overlap between the genes whose promoters are bound by a TF and those whose expression changes when the TF is deleted, leaving us without a definitive TF network for any eukaryote and without an efficient method for mapping functional TF networks. This paper describes NetProphet, a novel algorithm that improves the efficiency of network mapping from gene expression data. NetProphet exploits a fundamental observation about the nature of TF networks: The response to disrupting or overexpressing a TF is strongest on its direct targets and dissipates rapidly as it propagates through the network. Using S. cerevisiae data, we show that NetProphet can predict thousands of direct, functional regulatory interactions, using only gene expression data. The targets that NetProphet predicts for a TF are at least as likely to have sites matching the TF's binding specificity as the targets implicated by ChIP. Unlike most ChIP targets, the NetProphet targets also show evidence of functional regulation. This suggests a surprising conclusion: The best way to begin mapping direct, functional TF-promoter interactions may not be by measuring binding. We also show that NetProphet yields new insights into the functions of several yeast TFs, including a well-studied TF, Cbf1, and a completely unstudied TF, Eds1.
The Varieties of Meaning-Making Experience

How might we place an exploration of constructivist theory and psychotherapy and social justice within a broader, comprehensive perspective? For one approach to this question, I turn to neopragmati...
The Founder's Lecture 2009: advances in imaging of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis

The objective of this review article is to provide an update on new developments in imaging of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis over the past three decades. A literature review is presented that summarizes the highlights in the development of bone mineral density measurements, bone structure imaging, and vertebral fracture assessment in osteoporosis as well as MR-based semiquantitative assessment of osteoarthritis and quantitative cartilage matrix imaging. This review focuses on techniques that have impacted patient management and therapeutic decision making or that potentially will affect patient care in the near future. Results of pertinent studies are presented and used for illustration. In summary, novel developments have significantly impacted imaging of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis over the past three decades.
The effect of Fe-oxidizing bacteria on Fe-silicate mineral dissolution

Abstract Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans are commonly present in acid mine drainage (AMD). A. ferrooxidans derive metabolic energy from oxidation of Fe2+ present in natural acid solutions and also may be able to utilize Fe2+ released by dissolution of silicate minerals during acid neutralization reactions. Natural and synthetic fayalites were reacted in solutions with initial pH values of 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 in the presence of A. ferrooxidans and in abiotic solutions in order to determine whether these chemolithotrophic bacteria can be sustained by acid-promoted fayalite dissolution and to measure the impact of their metabolism on acid neutralization rates. The production of almost the maximum Fe3+ from the available Fe in solution in microbial experiments (compared to no production of Fe3+ in abiotic controls) confirms A. ferrooxidans metabolism. Furthermore, cell division was detected and the total cell numbers increased over the duration of experiments. Thus, over the pH range 2–4, fayalite dissolution can sustain growth of A. ferrooxidans. However, ferric iron released by A. ferrooxidans metabolism dramatically inhibited dissolution rates by 50–98% compared to the abiotic controls. Two sets of abiotic experiments were conducted to determine why microbial iron oxidation suppressed fayalite dissolution. Firstly, fayalite was dissolved at pH 2 in fully oxygenated and anoxic solutions. No significant difference was observed between rates in these experiments, as expected, due to extremely slow inorganic ferrous iron oxidation rates at pH 2. Experiments were also carried out to determine the effects of the concentrations of Fe2+, Mg2+ and Fe3+ on fayalite dissolution. Neither Fe2+ nor Mg2+ had an effect on the dissolution reaction. However, Fe3+, in the solution, inhibited both silica and iron release in the control, very similar to the biologically mediated fayalite dissolution reaction. Because ferric iron produced in microbial experiments was partitioned into nanocrystalline goethite (with very low Si) that was loosely associated with fayalite surfaces or coated the A. ferrooxidans cells, the decreased rates of accumulation of Fe and Si in solution cannot be attributed to diffusion inhibition by goethite or to precipitation of Fe–Si-rich minerals. The magnitude of the effect of Fe3+ addition (or enzymatic iron oxidation) on fayalite dissolution rates, especially at low extents of fayalite reaction, is most consistent with suppression of dissolution by interaction between Fe3+ and surface sites. These results suggest that microorganisms can significantly reduce the rate at which silicate hydrolysis reactions can neutralize acidic solutions in the environment.
El desarrollo del comportamiento auditivo

Resumen En este articulo se resumen los estudios llevados a cabo durante muchos anos sobre el desarrollo auditivo del recien nacido y el lactante. Se presenta primero una revision del desarrollo anatomico y fisiologico como introduccion al comportamiento del lactante. Se muestra que senales actuan como estimulos y de que modo los lactantes manifiestan sus respuestas. Estos estudios son de gran utilidad clinica, ya que instruyen sobre lo que cabe esperar de cualquier lactante a una edad muy temprana.
Treatment outcomes with mandibular removable partial dentures: a population-based study of patient satisfaction.

Abstract Statement of problem. Little is known about the outcomes of treatment with mandibular removable partial dentures provided by dentists in private dental practice. Purpose. This study examined 15 aspects of patient satisfaction and explored the factors found to be associated with dissatisfaction. Material and methods. A questionnaire was mailed to people whose dental insurance claims included CPT Code 5214 within the last 5 years. A composite measure of treatment outcome was created by combining the responses to the 15 satisfaction items, and 10 factors were then tested statistically to determine their relationship to dissatisfaction. Results. A majority of the respondents were satisfied with the prosthesis, but a substantial amount of dissatisfaction existed. Dissatisfaction was greater when there was no previous wearing experience or when there was an opposing maxillary removable partial denture. Respondents under the age of 60 expressed more dissatisfaction than did those over the age of 60, and subjects with lower levels of general health also reported less satisfaction. One third of the respondents believed their prosthesis required adjustment or replacement, and one fourth said the removable partial denture had caused a problem with the natural teeth. Conclusion. A majority of survey respondents treated with a mandibular removable partial denture in private dental practice were satisfied with the prosthesis, but a substantial amount of dissatisfaction existed. Dissatisfaction was related to age, health, prior experience with a prosthesis, and the type of opposing dentition. (J Prosthet Dent 1998;80:36-45.)
Development of a West Valley Nuclear Waste Glass by Empirical Modeling

The first full-scale conversion of high-level commercial U.S. nuclear wastes to a glass suitable for long-term storage and disposal will be conducted at West Valley, Now York. The development of a nuclear waste glass for this demonstration project utilized a statistically designed study that led to empirical models of melt viscosity, electrical conductivity, crystallinity, and chemical durability as functions of glass composition. The method by which the candidate glass composition was chosen using these models is described, and the adjustments to the candidate composition in response to the evolving plant design are discussed.
Modified Ross procedure using a conduit with a synthetic valve.

Objective: In the Ross procedure, a homograft conduit is commonly used in place of an autotransplanted pulmonary valve. Homograft availability may be a problem and has resulted in a search for alternatives. We performed a modified Ross procedure for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction with a synthetic valved conduit as an alternative to homograft. Our early results of valvular and right ventricular function were evaluated in patients who used a conduit with a synthetic valve. Methods: Subjects consisted of 11 patients, who ranged in age from 5 to 22 years (12.0G4.9), and whose body weight ranged from 15.1 to 52.5 (34.3G14.4) kg. Indications for surgery were aortic stenosis (nZ3), aortic stenosis and regurgitation (nZ4), and aortic regurgitation (nZ4). Right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction was performed using a hand-fashioned valved conduit prepared by sewing a 0.1 mm thick polytetrafluoroethylene sheet onto the luminal cavity of the 20‐28 mm conduit. A conduit made with polytetrafluoroethylene was used in 8 patients, and a Dacron graft was used in 3 patients. Results: There was no in-hospital or late mortality and angiocardiography at discharge revealed that all artificial valves remained active. The mean right atrial pressure and right ventricular end-diastolic pressure were not statistically different from preoperative values. The latest echocardiography (mean interval, 12.6 months) revealed that a mean pressure gradient across the synthetic valve was 11.4G11.1 mmHg and none of the patients had moderate or severe regurgitation. Conclusions: We demonstrated that a modified Ross procedure for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction using a conduit with an appropriate synthetic valve is particularly effective in older children. q 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Lizard habitat partitioning on islands : the interaction of local and landscape scales

Aim This study addresses how species resolve environmental differences into biological habitats at multiple, interacting spatial scales. How do patterns of local habitat use change along an elevation gradient? How do patterns of local habitat partitioning interact with partitioning at a landscape scale? Location Northern and southern Lesser Antilles islands, West Indies. Methods We document how Anolis Daudin, 1802 lizards partition habitat locally at sites along a landscape-scale elevation gradient. We examine habitat partitioning both with and without interspecific interactions in the predominately flat northern Lesser Antilles islands and in the more mountainous southern islands. Results Anoles partition local habitat along perch-height and microclimate axes. Northern-group sympatric anoles partition local habitat by perch height and have overlapping distributions at the landscape scale. Southern-group sympatric anoles partition local habitat by microclimate and specialize in particular habitats at the landscape scale. In both the northern and southern groups, species use different perch heights and microclimates only in areas of species overlap along the elevation gradient. Main conclusions We demonstrate the interaction between local- and landscape-scale habitat partitioning. In the case of microclimate partitioning, the interaction results from the use of thermal physiology to partition habitat at multiple scales. This interaction prompts the question of whether habitat partitioning developed ‘local-out’ or ‘landscape-in’. We pose this dichotomy and present a framework for its resolution.
A performance comparison of UNIX operating systems on the Pentium

This paper evaluates the performance of three popular versions of the UNIX operating system on the x86 architecture: Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris. We evaluate the systems using freely available micro- and application benchmarks to characterize the behavior of their operating system services. We evaluate the currently available major releases of the systems "asis," without any performance tuning. Our results show that the x86 operating systems and system libraries we tested fail to deliver the Pentium's full memory write performance to applications. On small-file workloads, Linux is an order of magnitude faster than the other systems. On networking software, FreeBSD provides two to three times higher bandwidth than Linux. In general, Solaris performance usually lies between that of the other two systems. Although each operating system out-performs the others in some area, we conclude that no one system offers clearly better overall performance. Other factors, such as extra features, ease of installation, or freely available source code, are more convincing reasons for choosing a particular system.
States, Models and Unitary Equivalence I: Representation Theorems and Analogical Reasoning

I show that virtually any model of decision making under uncertainty is associated to a certain structure. This contains three fundamental ingredients: (1) The domain of the acts; (2) Another set, which is called the set of models for the decision maker; and (3) The decision maker’s information about the set of models (an algebra of subsets of the set of models). A consequence of this finding is that that the decision maker’s choices can be viewed as the outcome of a two-stage process. First, the set of acts is mapped into a system of hypothetical bets on the set of models. Then, the latter are ranked by the decision maker. I show that this procedure can be thought of as describing a general form of analogical reasoning. I also observe that the appearance of two different sets implies that the decision maker is uncertain about two different objects and that he may receive information about any of them. In particular, information about the set of models affects the decision maker’s ranking of the available alternatives. In the sequel to this paper, I show that certain natural information structures lead to an inherent inability of assigning probabilities on the domain of the acts. In a formal sense, their properties describe the idea of Knightian Uncertainty. ∗I benefited from comments and suggestions from Larry Epstein, Paolo Ghirardato, Tzachi Gilboa, Fabio Maccheroni, Massimo Marinacci, Rich McLean, Ket Richter, Aldo Rustichini, Marco Scarsini, Paolo Siconolfi, Max Stinchcombe, William Thomson, Stan Wellisz and Bill Zame. I also wish to thank seminar participants at University of Iowa, RUD 2003, CalTech, University of Minnesota, University of Texas-Austin, Columbia University, University of Rochester, Rutgers University, University of Turin, Ohio State University, Columbia University Workshop on Multiple Priors. †Department of Economics, Columbia University, 1019 IAB, 420 W 118th street, NY, NY 10027. Email: ma734@columbia.edu.
The effect of misunderstanding the chemical properties of environmental contaminants on exposure beliefs: A case involving dioxins

Chemical properties of contaminants lead them to behave in particular ways in the environment and hence have specific pathways to human exposure. If residents of affected communities lack awareness of these properties, however, they could make incorrect assumptions about where and how exposure occurs. We conducted a mailed survey of 904 residents of Midland and Saginaw counties in Michigan, USA to assess to what degree residents of a community with known dioxin contamination appear to understand the hydrophobic nature of dioxins and the implications of that fact on different potential exposure pathways. Participants assessed whether various statements about dioxins were true, including multiple statements assessing beliefs about dioxins in different types of water. Participants also stated whether they believed different exposure pathways were currently significant sources of dioxin exposure in this community. A majority of residents believed that dioxins can be found in river water that has been filtered to completely remove all particulates, well water, and even city tap water, beliefs which are incongruous with the hydrophobic nature of dioxins. Mistrust of government and personal concern about dioxins predicted greater beliefs about dioxins in water. In turn, holding more beliefs about dioxins in water predicted beliefs that drinking and touching water are currently significant exposure pathways for dioxins. Ensuring that community residents' mental models accurately reflect the chemical properties of different contaminants can be important to helping them to adjust their risk perceptions and potentially their risk mitigation behaviors accordingly.
Hepatozoon species (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) of the corn snake, Elaphe guttata (Serpentes: Colubridae) and the pigmy rattlesnake, Sistrurus miliarius barbouri (Serpentes: Viperidae) in south Florida.

Hepatozoon guttata n. sp. is described from the corn snake (Elaphe guttata guttata) from south Florida. Gamonts average 14.6 × 4.6 (13–17 × 3.5–6) and are not recurved, with nucleus situated in the second quarter of the gamont. Erythrocyte cytoplasm rarely appears partially dehemoglobinized. The infected cells are usually distorted and are longer than the uninfected erythrocytes but do not differ in width; nuclei are smaller in length and width than those of uninfected cells. Sporogony in Aedes aegypti occurs within the head and the thorax but rarely in the abdomen. Oocysts are spherical to usually ovoid, 87.2 × 75.9 (45–155 × 40–152.5) and contain on average 7.1 (2–32) sporocysts. Sporocysts are spherical to ovoid, 34.8 × 31.0 (20–55 × 17.5–47.5), with 45.7 (14–89) sporozoites contained within. The pigmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri) in south Florida is parasitized by H. sistruri n. sp. Gamonts average 14.1 × 5.6 (12.6–15.8 × 4.7–6.3) in breadth and are not recurved, with the nucleus always ...
Recognizing diversity in blennioid fish nomenclature (Teleostei: Blennioidei)

Species inventories for macroecology, biogeography and conservation biology rely upon accurate lists of valid species. In order to provide a more uniform taxonomic treatment for blennioid fishes, we evaluated the taxonomic status of 21 species with currently recognized subspecies. In six cases we found no compelling evidence for recognizing these nominal forms as distinct species. However, in 15 cases, evidence exists for elevating 17 subspecies to full species status based on currently used criteria for delimiting fish species. This evidence includes the existence of significant phenotypic and/or genetic differences supporting the hypothesis that they are on distinct evolutionary pathways in accordance with a phylogenetic species concept. Known distributions of affected species are modified accordingly. Most of these elevated species are separated from their closest relatives by well-known biogeographic barriers.
Reflex inhibition of plasma renin activity by increased left ventricular pressure in conscious dogs

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of left ventricular (LV) outflow obstruction on plasma renin activity (PRA) and the contribution from afferent receptors located in the LV myocardium. In chronically instrumented, conscious dogs (n = 12), changes in PRA during a 15- to 20-mmHg decrease in arterial blood pressure were assessed during 1) intravenous infusions of nitroprusside (NP) alone and 2) infusions of NP while peak systolic LV pressure was elevated by acute ascending aortic occlusion (AAO + NP). Infusions of NP alone elicited significant increases in heart rate (24.9 +/- 5.1 beats/min; P less than 0.01) and in PRA [3.31 +/- 0.53 ng angiotensin I (ANG I).ml-1.h-1; P less than 0.01]. These were accompanied by decreases in both LV pressure (-13.8 +/- 3.6 mmHg; P less than 0.05) and left atrial pressure (-3.0 +/- 0.7 mmHg; P less than 0.05). During AAO + NP, LV pressure was elevated to an absolute level of 169.2 +/- 4.6 mmHg (+53.3 +/- 4.2 mmHg; P less than 0.001), whereas left atrial pressure was not changed. Both the hypotension-induced rise in PRA and tachycardia were significantly inhibited during AAO + NP (+0.59 +/- 0.29 ng ANG I.ml-1.h-1 and +6.3 +/- 4.6 beats/min, respectively; NS). The topical application of a local anesthetic in the region of the main coronary artery, sufficient to block the heart rate and arterial blood pressure responses to selective LV receptor stimulation by intracoronary veratridine (0.1-0.4 microgram/kg), resulted in significant increases in PRA and heart rate during AAO + NP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Microbial Degradation of Synthetic Polymers

Degradable synthetic polymers have generally been those which have linkages found in natural polymers. These include amide, urea, urethane and ester bonds the polyester, polycaprolactone (PCL) has been used as a model compound to examine some of the biochemical events involved in the process. A variety of microorganisms have been isolated capable of degrading PCL and several selected for further study. The extracellular enzyme system of the yeast Cryptococcus laurentii consists of a constitutive enzyme with a molecular weight (MW) of23 000 and a low MW cofactor bound to it by non-covalent bonds. It is inactivated at 42°C, has a broad pH optimum between pH7 and 11, and an isolectric point of pH 7·3. The extracellular enzyme system o/Pseudomonas aeruginosa consists of a constitutive enzyme with a MW of 20 000 with an aggregate or larger form possible. The pH optimum is sharp at 7·3 and the isoelectric point is pH 5·5.
Evaluating Landscape Performance of Six Native Shrubs as Alternatives to Invasive Exotics

There is increased interest in using native plant alternatives to invasive species for landscaping. Several invasive shrubs are used extensively in landscaping since they perform well in challenging landscapes, such as parking lot island plantings, which are dry, nutrient-poor, and sun and heat exposed. This study evaluated the landscape suitability of six underused Connecticut native shrubs [american filbert (Corylus americana), buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera), steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa), sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina), and sweet gale (Myrica gale)] by planting them in a large commuter parking lot on the University of Connecticut (UConn) campus in Storrs. Two nonnative invasive species, ‘Crimson Pygmy’ japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) and ‘Compactus’ winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus), were also planted as controls. Buttonbush, sweet fern, and sweet gale performed as well as controls and had aesthetic quality index (AQI) ratings similar to controls throughout the study, which spanned three growing seasons. These findings were surprising for buttonbush and sweet gale, which are found in the wild occupying predominantly wet areas. Buttonbush plants readily established at the site as indicated by a 930% increase in plant size over the first growing season. Sweet fern and sweet gale produced attractive, dense, and uniform mounds consistently throughout the study. Northern bush honeysuckle and american filbert were slower to establish, but by the second and third year, respectively, plants were highly attractive and had AQI ratings similar to controls. Despite its attractive floral display, steeplebush performed poorly and developed powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca) symptoms in the first and second years, which contributed to a lower AQI compared with controls. Aesthetic quality for american filbert, buttonbush, and steeplebush was reduced because of variation resulting from seed propagation. For certain native species, plants received from the nursery were not robust, which may have had a greater influence on establishment and early performance than their inherent landscape adaptability. This study identified five underused native shrubs that are adaptable and able to replace invasive plants in landscapes.