cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Testing diversification models of endemic Philippine forest mice (Apomys) with nuclear phylogenies across elevational gradients reveals repeated colonization of isolated mountain ranges

Aim Our aims were to document the extent of diversification in an endemic clade of small mammals (Apomys, subgenus Megapomys) on a large oceanic island and to test whether speciation occurred primarily (1) along isolated elevational gradients or (2) among montane areas, as would be expected if diversification were driven by glacial cycles. Location The Philippine archipelago, particularly Luzon Island and two smaller adjacent islands (Mindoro and Lubang). Methods We analysed newly generated nuclear DNA sequences from five unlinked genes and mitochondrial cytochrome b using concatenation (likelihood and Bayesian) and coalescent-based methods to estimate the species tree for all 13 species. We tested a priori models of speciation using both topological constraints and reconstructed elevational ranges of ancestors. Results All individual gene trees recovered at least four of the morphologically defined Megapomys species as monophyletic, while the concatenated approaches recovered all 13 species as monophyletic. Each species was confined to a single mountain range or off-shore island. Most mountain ranges had two species, but these species pairs usually were not sisters. Megapomys originated at medium to high elevation followed by three transitions into lower elevations and possibly one to high elevation. Both a priori models of speciation (elevational gradient and glacial cycle) were rejected by topology tests. The speciation rate was approximately constant through time. Main conclusions Nuclear sequence data strongly corroborated the species status of recently described taxa. A well-supported phylogeny showed that Megapomys diversified by splitting into a predominantly high-elevation clade and an entirely low-elevation clade. Neither adaptation along elevational gradients on single mountain ranges nor vicariance of high-elevation species following glacial cycle-induced dispersals fitted the data. Rather, the most likely process explaining species distributions is repeated colonization of isolated mountain ranges by distantly related species.
Role of Generalized Wannier Functions in the Effective-Hamiltonian Formalism for Magnetic Fields

Generalized Wannier functions appropriate to magnetic fields are constructed by group-the-oretic methods for nearly free electrons. A one-to-one correspondence is indicated with the zero-field band states. The diagonal elements of the effective Hamiltonian are discussed and are shown to resemble closely the energy-band function $E(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{k}})$ when expressed in the basis set of these Wannier functions.
Oral and written language development of children adopted from china.

Purpose The sharp increase in the number of international adoptions in the United States has prompted a heightened interest in the language development of internationally adopted children. Although...
ISB News January 2012: From the Editor-in-Chief

One of the keys to the continued success of the International Journal of Biometeorology is the quality, commitment, and hard work of its Field Editors. I would like to take this opportunity to announce a number of important changes to the IJB Field Editor structure and personnel. After a few months of transition, I am happy to report that the editorial board structure is now complete for the next 3-year period. We have expanded the Field Editor ranks from 9 to 12, through five additions and two retirements. Retiring are Nigel A. S. Taylor and Richard de Dear. We thank both Nigel and Richard for their work on the Journal over many years. Our new members are:
A new technique for laparoscopic exploration to find contralateral patent processus vaginalis

Background: Contralateral inguinal exploration in an infant with a symptomatic unilateral hernia is controversial. A patent processus vaginalis (PPV) may be found in up to 60% of term infants, and even in a greater number of preterm infants. However, only 10% to 30% of children will subsequently develop a contralateral hernia when only the symptomatic side is repaired. Standard contralateral laparoscopic inguinal exploration (CLIE) usually is performed through the ipsilateral groin with an angled scope or through the umbilicus with a 0° scope. A significant number of children have a peritoneal veil shrouding the internal ring. To enhance the accuracy of contralateral groin exploration, we have used a laparoscopic technique of directly visualizing the internal ring through a lateral abdominal approach.
Distance relays operation during the August 2003 North American Blackout and methods for improvement

The August 2003 Blackout in the Northeast was a major event that resulted in huge losses and raised a lot of issues related to the protection and control of the electric power system during wide area disturbances. The paper discusses the operation of distance relays during the blackout and presents an analysis of advanced distance characteristics and power swing detection methods that that can improve the performance of the protection system and prevent the deterioration of the system following short circuit faults or other abnormal system conditions.
Hypotension as the Etiology for Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor-Associated Acute Kidney Injury in Pediatric Patients

This retrospective study aimed to compare systolic and diastolic blood pressures between patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) after initiation of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy and those of patients who do not experience AKI after ACE inhibitor therapy. Of 332 patients who received an ACE inhibitor as inpatients at our institution from 1 January 2010 to 1 July 2012, 20 patients had a doubling of serum creatinine (SCr) within 72 h after initiation or dose uptitration of an ACE inhibitor (AKI group). These cases were matched one to four by age and gender to patients who received an ACE inhibitor but did not have a doubling of SCr (control group). The patients in the AKI group had a significantly greater decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressures before their AKI than the control group. Pediatric patients who experience ACE inhibitor-associated AKI have a significantly greater decrease in blood pressure than patients who do not experience ACE inhibitor-associated AKI. The authors suggest that the risk and benefits of ACE inhibitor use be stringently evaluated before initiation of therapy.
Pattern Formation in Dewetting Poly(tert-butyl acrylate)/Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) Bilayer Films

The surface morphology of dewetting poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PtBA) and trisilanolphenyl-POSS (TPP) bilayers has been studied as a function of time at 95 °C. For short annealing times, only the upper nanoparticle (TPP) layer dewets from the underlying PtBA layer. The number and lateral dimensions of the holes in the upper TPP layer increase with increasing annealing times, forming interconnected rim structures. At later annealing times, scattered holes that reach down into the PtBA layer are observed among the interconnected rim structures. Fractal nanofiller (TPP)-rich aggregates are found at the bottom of the scattered holes.
Effects of Surgically Implanted Transmitter Weights on Growth and Swimming Stamina of Small Adult Westslope Cutthroat Trout

Abstract The generally accepted 2% ratio of transmitter weight to body weight constrains or precludes telemetry studies examining the timing and location of spawning of small adult westslope cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi in headwater streams. We empirically determined effects of surgically implanted dummy transmitters ranging in weight from 1 to 5 g on the swimming stamina and growth of small (81.3–206.9 g) adult westslope cutthroat trout in the laboratory to establish acceptable transmitter weights for field studies on this species. Mean growth rates and swimming stamina were not significantly different among treatments, including controls. No precipitous decline or threshold beyond which performance deteriorated markedly was observed. Data collected using telemetered westslope cutthroat trout implanted with transmitters less than about 4% of body weight should therefore approximate information about untelemetered individuals without significant bias. However, we also detected subtle effect...
The Influences of Gender and Religiousness on Alzheimer Disease Caregivers' Use of Informal Support and Formal Services

Objective. This study explored how male and female family caregivers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients differ in their use of formal services and informal support and how religiousness may affect such differences. Methods. Data were from a sample of 720 family caregivers of AD patients who participated in the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Heath (REACH I) study sites in Birmingham, Boston, Memphis, and Philadelphia. Results. Female caregivers were less likely to use in-home services than males (M = 0.83 vs. M = 1.06, p < .01) but reported more use of transportation services (21.6% vs. 12.7%, p < .01) and more use of informal support (M = 13.9 vs. M = 10.7, p < .01). Mediation tests suggested that three measures of religiousness helped explain the relationship between gender and use of formal services and informal support. Discussion. These findings highlight the necessity to assess AD caregivers' religiousness to better understand their circumstances.
Hardening lightning protection for avionics on composite aircraft

Electronic equipment on aircraft (avionics) are required to be immune to the indirect effects of lightning strikes to the airframe. The indirect effects of lightning strikes to airframes fabricated with carbon composite material are more severe in level and duration than those to metallic airframes. Thus, to use existing avionics deigned for aircraft with metallic airframes on aircraft with composite airframes, the lightning protection for these avionics may require additional protection (hardening). This paper outlines a three step process that allows quick evaluation of each signal line interfacing with the avionics equipment to determine if hardening is required. To facilitate the evaluation process, a graphical user interface (GUI) is introduced. Then, techniques for the hardening of the existing lightning protection with the least impact on the signal lines are outlined. Finally, an example design is provided.
Finally: changing the natural history of chronic hepatitis c!: Poynard T, McHutchison J, Davis GL, et al., Impact of Interferon Alfa-2b and Ribavirin on Progression of Liver Fibrosis in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C, Hepatology 2000;32:1131–7

Previous studies have established the benefit of combined interferon and ribavirin therapy in achieving sustained virological clearance in chronic hepatitis C infection. Interferon has antifibrotic activity, but the added benefit of the combination regimen for the progression of liver fibrosis is unknown. The authors pooled individual data from three large, multicenter, randomized studies of combined interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin involving 1509 patients with pre- and posttreatment liver biopsies. Fibrosis was staged on a scale of 0 to 4: F0, no fibrosis; F1, portal fibrosis without septa; F2, few septa; F3, numerous septa without cirrhosis; and F4, cirrhosis. F2, F3, and F4 were considered significant fibrosis. Liver biopsies were done before and 1 yr after therapy, and the rates of progression or regression of fibrosis between the two biopsies were calculated. Ninety-six weeks after the initial biopsy, 68 ± 4% of patients were without significant fibrosis when treated with combination therapy for 48 wk, 64 ± 4% were without significant fibrosis with interferon alone for 48 wk, 42 ± 7% were without significant fibrosis with combination therapy for 24 wk (lower than both 48-wk therapies, p < 0.001), and 24 ± 9% were without significant fibrosis with interferon alone for 24 wk (lower than the combination therapy for 24 wk, p = 0.02). The patients with significant fibrosis at baseline, those who achieved a virological response, and those who received 48 wk of therapy had the most prominent results. The combination of interferon and ribavirin therapy significantly reduces the rate of progression of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Recoil polarization observables in coincident pion electroproduction

We present an analysis of the recoil polarization observables in neutral pion electroproduction on the proton. In particular, for the N → Δ transition, we investigate the sensitivity of these observables to models of the resonant and non-resonant amplitudes. We find that the resonant quadrupole amplitudes have a large effect on the polarization response functions in the reaction plane while the Born terms significantly influence the polarization normal to this plane. At large four-momentum transfer, the higher nucleon resonances are found to interfere strongly with the Δ amplitudes.
Know Thyself: A Knowledge Repository in the Hospital Setting

A knowledge repository project is a way for a hospital to know itself and its experts. A better network of knowledge producers allows hospital staff to collaborate, learn from each other, and acknowledge each other's contributions in the complex health care environment. A knowledge repository project illustrates how hospital librarians can partner with their communities to facilitate the creation of new knowledge.
Rapid monoclonal antibody adsorption on dextran-grafted agarose media for ion-exchange chromatography

The binding capacity and adsorption kinetics of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) are measured for experimental cation exchangers obtained by grafting dextran polymers to agarose beads and compared with measurements for two commercial agarose-based cation exchangers with and without dextran grafts. Introduction of charged dextran polymers results in enhanced adsorption kinetics despite a dramatic reduction of the accessible pore size as determined by inverse size-exclusion chromatography. Incorporation of neutral dextran polymers in a charged agarose bead results instead in substantially lower binding capacities. The effective pore diffusivities obtained from batch uptake curves increase substantially as the protein concentration is reduced for the resins containing charged dextran grafts, but are much less dependent on protein concentration for the resins with no dextran or uncharged dextran grafts. The batch uptake results are corroborated by microscopic observations of transient adsorption in individual particles. In all cases studied, the adsorption kinetics is characterized by a sharp adsorption front consistent with a shell-progressive, diffusion limited mechanism. Greatly enhanced transport rates are obtained with an experimental resin containing charged dextran grafts with effective pore diffusivities that are 1-9 times larger than the free solution diffusivity and adsorption capacity approaching 300 mg/cm3 of particle volume.
Female social networks influence male vocal development in brown-headed cowbirds, Molothrus ater

Previous work has found that adult female brown-headed cowbirds, who do not sing, shape male vocal structure when in restricted housing. The present work extends this finding to a flock setting to examine the role of social behaviour in shaping male vocal development. We housed juvenile males with either adult or juvenile females in large flocks. Over the course of a year, we recorded their song and social behaviour. We found in early autumn that juvenile males housed with adult females improvised more song elements than males housed with juvenile females. During late autumn, we switched the males across female age-class conditions for 6 days. The males switched to the adult female flocks increased the number of improvised elements in their vocal repertoires. Analysis of the sequences of female–male social contact revealed that juvenile females, but not adult females, interacted indiscriminately with the males. Social network measures such as betweenness and closeness centrality further showed that adult females are more selective in their interactions with males than juvenile females. This study suggests a systemic role for selective social behaviour in shaping male vocal development.
Depressive symptoms and carotid artery intima-media thickness in police officers

Purpose Police work is a stressful occupation. Depressive symptoms, which may occur as a result of exposure to stressors in police work, have been known to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between depressive symptoms and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) among police officers.
Mentors, their preparation and their effectiveness in an undergraduate operations management course

A core, junior-level operations management course was redesigned to more than twice the original size. One of the design changes in the course was to change the format from biweekly lectures from the instructor to a once a week lecture from the instructor and a once a week discussion-oriented seminars with a peer-mentor. The peer-mentor had previously completed the course and served to guide the students and help with homework. In this paper, in addition to describing the mentor preparation, three types of analysis are conducted to determine the usefulness of mentors. Firstly, seminar characteristics were analysed to determine whether they influence a seminar's overall performance as measured by average grade, median grade and passing percentage. Secondly, mentor characteristics were analysed to determine their effect on a seminar's overall performance. Finally, the student's perception of mentors was analysed.
Mortality and cerebrovascular events after radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a significant increase in the risk of stroke and mortality. It is unclear whether maintaining sinus rhythm (SR) after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is associated with an improvement in stroke risk and survival. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether SR after RFA of AF is associated with an improvement in the risk of cerebrovascular events (CVEs) and mortality during an extended 10-year follow-up. Methods RFA was performed in 3058 patients (age 58 ± 10 years) with paroxysmal (n = 1888) or persistent AF (n = 1170). The effects of time-dependent rhythm status on CVEs and cardiac and all-cause mortality were assessed using multivariable Cox models adjusted for baseline and time-dependent variables during 11,347 patient-years of follow-up. Results Independent predictors of a higher arrhythmia burden after RFA were age (estimated beta coefficient [β] = 0.017 per 10 years, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.006–0.029, P = .003), left atrial (LA) diameter (β = 0.044 per 5-mm increase in LA diameter, 95% CI 0.034–0.055, P P P = .015). There was not a significant reduction in all-cause mortality (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.58–1.29, P = .48) or CVEs (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.48–1.29, P = .34) in patients who remained in SR after RFA. Conclusion Maintenance of SR after RFA is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular mortality in patients with AF.
Hydrothermal processing of cometary volatiles--applications to Triton.

Subsequent to its capture by Neptune, Triton could have experienced an episode of tidal heating sufficient to melt its icy mantle and possibly its rocky core as well. This heating would have driven hydrothermal circulation at the core-rock/mantle-ocean boundary. We consider the chemical consequences of this hydrothermal reprocessing on Triton's volatile budget by assuming an initial cometary composition for the icy mantle and evaluating the effects of changes in temperature and oxidation state. We assume that the latter would have been controlled by mineral assemblages in the rock. Such reprocessing could explain the lack of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere of Triton and its depletion relative to N2 and (apparently) CO2 in the satellite's surface ices. Our calculations also show that whatever the original source of nitrogen in Triton, N2and/or NH3 are likely abundant products of hydrothermal reprocessing. Depending on the temperature and prevailing oxidation state, acetic acid, ethanol, urea, methanol, and ethanamine are possible important components, in addition to ammonia, of the resulting mantle material. Triton may thus preserve the organic chemistry that might have led to the origin of life in early terrestrial hydrothermal systems.
Thermally Induced Injury and Heat‐Shock Protein Expression in Cells and Tissues

Heat-shock proteins (HSPs) are critical components of a cell's defense mechanism against injury associated with adverse stresses. Initiating insults, such as elevated or depressed temperature, diminished oxygen, and pressure, increase HSP expression and can protect cells against subsequent, otherwise lethal, insults. Although HSPs are very beneficial to the normal cell, cancer cells can also use HSPs in response to stresses associated with various therapies (hyperthermia, chemotherapy, radiation), mitigating injury incurred by these treatments. Hyperthermia is a common treatment option for prostate cancer. HSPs can be induced in regions of the tumor where temperatures are insufficient to cause lethal thermal necrosis. Elevated HSP expression can enhance tumor cell viability and impart increased resistance to subsequent chemotherapy and radiation treatments, thereby promoting tumor recurrence. An understanding of the structure, function, and thermally stimulated HSP kinetics and cell injury for prostate cancer cells is essential to designing effective hyperthermia protocols. Measured thermally induced cellular HSP expression and injury data can be employed to develop a treatment planning model for optimization of the tissue response to therapy based on accurate prediction of the HSP expression and cell damage distribution.
Transformation of benzalkonium chloride under nitrate reducing conditions.

The effect and transformation potential of benzalkonium chlorides (BAC) under nitrate reducing conditions were investigated at concentrations up to 100 mg/L in batch assays using a mixed, mesophilic (35 °C) methanogenic culture. Glucose was used as the carbon and energy source and the initial nitrate concentration was 70 mg N/L. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia (DNRA) and to dinitrogen (DNRN) were observed at BAC concentrations up to 25 mg/L. At and above 50 mg BAC/L, DNRA was inhibited and DNRN was incomplete resulting in accumulation of nitrous oxide. Long-term inhibition of methanogenesis and accumulation of volatile fatty acids were observed at and above 50 mg BAC/L. Over 99% of the added BAC was recovered from all cultures except the one amended with 100 mg BAC/L where 37% of the initially added BAC was transformed during the 100 day incubation period. Abiotic and biotic assays performed with 100 mg/L of BAC and 5 mM (in the liquid phase) of either nitrate, nitrite, or nitric oxide demonstr...
Pericentric inversion, inv(14)(p11.2q22.3), in a 9-month old with features of Goldenhar syndrome

Goldenhar syndrome, also called hemifacial microsomia or oculo-auriculo-verterbal dysplasia (OAVS) (MIM 164210), is a birth defect involving the first and second branchial arch derivatives with an incidence of 1/5000. The variable phenotype includes mostly unilateral deformity of the external ear and small ipsilateral half of the face with epibulbar dermoid and vertebral anomalies. A genome-wide search in one family suggested linkage to a region of 10.7 cM on chromosome 14q32; however, no candidate genes have been identified. We report on a 9-month old with OAVS and a pericentric inversion of chromosome 14 which he inherited from his phenotypically normal mother. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization analysis with bacterial artificial chromosome clones from chromosome 14 showed the breakpoint on 14q maps distal to 14q21.2, thus confirming the cytogenetic breakpoints. In light of previous linkage studies mapping OAVS to 14q, we propose that the long arm breakpoint in our proband disrupted a potential candidate gene for OAVS resulting in his clinical phenotype.
Legitimate Power and Illegitimate Revolution: A Third-World Dilemma

"Rebellion arises equally from objective and subjective conditions. The rebel perceives an imbalance in the allocation of resources or access to power, and is outraged to find that imbalance sanctified by a definition of himself as unworthy of or, more subtly, as unready for those resources or power. Relative scarcity and racist justification are thus conjoined in the rebellious upheavals of the Third World." Yet both the advantaged and disadvantaged are socialized to accept the legitimacy of the status quo. According to the author, the truly committed social or behavioral scientist must become aware of the contradictions evident in the theories he has been trained to believe in and the concrete social conditions of oppressed people. He must lead the way in rethinking the concepts of Authority and Equality for man. He must build new "conceptual mansions" that will transform Man and bring about a new Society of useful individuals and nurturing institutions.
The costs and benefits of women's family ties in occupational context: Women in corporate—government affairs management

This article examines gender differences in the family relations of corporate-government affairs managers and how women's family status affects the context and character of their interactions with key people in business and government. In the last two decades, women have come to occupy a significant proportion of professional-managerial service occupations in the USA. Corporate public affairs management and corporate-government affairs management are areas where women have made tremendous headway. Jobs in public relations and government relations call for workers to form successful connections with clients, the public, other managers in the corporation, and others in their profession outside the corporation. Because of the nature of these jobs, the potential for 'personal' and 'professional' overlap is quite high, yet little research has focused on the effects of family on work relations for women who occupy these positions. Drawing primarily from in-depth interviews and a mail questionnaire, this researc...
Occurrence of Red Water off Peru

DURING a cruise of the RV Anton Bruun on April 11, 1966, a large patch of red water about 100 sq. miles in area was encountered 100 miles offshore between Cabo Blanco and Punta Aguja, Peru. The cause of this was identified as the organism Cyclotrichium meunieri, a ciliate which has frequently been associated with red water occurrences elsewhere1–3. The colour of the water ranged from rust to nearly vermilion and was related to the degree of concentration of the ciliates at the surface; the ciliates seemed to be restricted to a depth of less than 1 m.
Anomalous magnetic quenching of ortho-positronium in a solution of nitrobenzene in isooctane

Abstract The magnetic quenching of ortho-positronium ( o -Ps) has been studied for a 0.1 M solution of nitrobenzene in isooctane (2,2,4-trimethylpentane). Static magnetic fields up to 6.2 kG were applied to the solution and the lifetime of the m =0 state of o -Ps was determined as a function of the field strength at 2, 24 and 50°C. It was found that the lifetime is decreased to a much greater extent than is expected from the quadratic Zeeman effect, as in the reported case of nitrobenzene in n -hexane. It is suggested that particular bound states formed during the attachment—detachment of o -Ps on nitrobenzene in a solution with a low surface tension may be responsible for the anomalous effect.
Towards integrating real-world spatiotemporal data with social networks

As the popularity of social networks is continuously growing, collected data about online social activities is becoming an important asset enabling many applications such as target advertising, sale promotions, and marketing campaigns. Although most social interactions are recorded through online activities, we believe that social experiences taking place offline in the real physical world are equally if not more important. This paper introduces a geo-social model that derives social activities from the history of people's movements in the real world, i.e., who has been where and when. In particular, from spatiotemporal histories, we infer real-world co-occurrences - being there at the same time - and then use co-occurrences to quantify social distances between any two persons. We show that straightforward measures either do not scale or may overestimate the strength of social connections by giving too much weight to coincidences.
Effects of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty on renal plasma flow

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is being used with increasing frequency for the treatment of renal artery stenosis. Several noninvasive techniques that utilize radioactive tracers have been used for monitoring the effects of angioplasty and progression of disease. Forty-one patients were studied before and after renal angioplasty by using renograms and fractionated measurements of effect renal plasma flow. Although there were striking examples of improvement in effective renal plasma flow following angioplasty, this was not a consistent finding. There was a tendency for effective renal plasma flow to revert to the baseline level on follow-up studies. Cure of hypertension was more likely in patients without renal insufficiency and in patients with shorter periods of sustained hypertension. Fractionated effective renal plasma flow studies did not reliably differentiate patients who were cured from those who were improved nor were we able to delineate clearly those requiring repeat dilatation. Nevertheless, this technique is useful for noninvasively measuring fractionated renal function in the immediate postoperative or postdilatation recovery period and for detecting the difference between occlusion of the renal artery and transient renal insufficiency due to contrast material. Also, long-term measurement of fractionated function has value in following potential progression of the basic disease process.
Enhanced statistical damage identification using frequency change information with tunable piezoelectric circuitry

The frequency-shift based damage detection method entertains advantages such as the global detection capability and the easy implementation, but also suffers from drawbacks that include low detection sensitivity and the difficulty in identifying damage using a small number of measurable frequencies. Meanwhile, the damage detection performance is inevitably affected by the uncertainty/variations in the baseline model. In this research, we investigate an enhanced statistical damage identification method using the tunable piezoelectric circuitry. The tunable piezoelectric circuitry can lead to much enriched information of frequency-shift (before and after damage occurrence). The circuitry elements, meanwhile, can be directly and accurately measured and thus can be considered uncertainty-free. A statistical damage identification algorithm is formulated which can provide both the mean and variance of the elemental property changes. Our analysis indicates that the integration of the tunable piezoelectric circuitry can significantly enhance the robustness in damage identification under uncertainty and noise.
Dural arteriovenous fistula supplied by the artery of Davidoff and Schechter

Dural arteriovenous fistulae are common intracranial vascular anomalies. They are usually supplied by meningeal branches of the internal or external carotid arteries. When they occur in the posterior fossa, they are usually supplied by the posterior meningeal branches of the vertebral artery, in addition to the external carotid artery. In this case report we highlight a rare meningeal contribution to the dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) from the posterior cerebral artery.
Vacuum Tube Synchronizing Equipment

Potential front high-voltage circuits is obtained by means of capacitance transformers. This potential is applied to the grid circuit of vacuum-tube amplifiers, the output from which drives a rotating type of synchroscope. Thus the vacuum-tube synchronizing equipment makes unnecessary costly high-voltage transformers, which have been almost universally used for synchronizing in the past. The paper describes the commercial apparatus, gives equations pertaining to the vacuum-tube amplifier and shows calculated and measured characteristic curves.
Hyperglycemia Accentuates Persistent “Functional Uncoupling” of Cerebral Microvascular Nitric Oxide and Superoxide Following Focal Ischemia/Reperfusion in Rats

Hyperglycemia worsens outcome in stroke patients and in a variety of stroke models, most prominently following prolonged ischemia and reperfusion. Vascular dysfunction has been associated with this worsened outcome, manifested by reduced reperfusion cerebral blood flow (CBF), as well as increased hemorrhagic transformation, edema, and mortality. The phenomenon of “uncoupling” of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) has been associated with hyperglycemia in the periphery and results in a dysfunctional eNOS-generating superoxide radical ( $$ {\text{O}}_2^{ - } $$ ) in lieu of nitric oxide (NO). A net result of NOS uncoupling is reduction in blood flow and generation of a pro-thrombotic, inflammatory vascular phenotype that could explain many of the features of hyperglycemic stroke. Because the sources of increased $$ {\text{O}}_2^{ - } $$ and mechanisms of reduced NO are difficult to identify under in vivo pathological conditions, we have termed the presence of perivascular excess of $$ {\text{O}}_2^{ - } $$ expression relative to NO as “functional uncoupling.” We hypothesized that hyperglycemia would induce a state of functional uncoupling in the cerebral microvasculature that would be exacerbated by transient focal ischemia. We examined the relative expression of systemically injected radical sensitive dyes in cerebral microvessel profiles in the basal and 24 h post-stroke brain in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion and recanalization (MCAO/R) in controls and after hyperglycemia. We focused on the peri-infarct region because of its importance in penumbra extension and edema. Differential expression of fluorescent dyes sensitive to $$ {\text{O}}_2^{ - } $$ and NO in microvessel profiles were assessed in the peri-infarct region. Hyperglycemia was induced by streptozotocin 48 h prior to MCAO/R. We found that hyperglycemia resulted in an increase in $$ {\text{O}}_2^{ - } $$ relative to NO, a pattern consistent with functional uncoupling. This ratio was accentuated 24 h after MCA/O in both groups. Hyperglycemic rats showed a synergistic increase in the $$ {\text{O}}_2^{ - } $$ /NO ratio as well as reduced acute reperfusion CBF, increased infarct size, and enhanced expression of nitrotyrosine. While effects of hyperglycemia on oxidative radicals is well known, we showed for the first time that hyperglycemia synergistically worsened functional uncoupling in the peri-infarct microvasculature and that it persisted for the 24-h duration of the experiment. Persistent generation of microvascular $$ {\text{O}}_2^{ - } $$ and reduction in NO expression suggest potential late therapeutic targets to restore microvessel function and improve vascular outcomes in hyperglycemic stroke.
Neuromuscular Junction Dysfunction in Miller Fisher Syndrome

The Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) is a variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome with the clinical triad of areflexia, ataxia, and ophthalmoparesis. The classic pathologic mechanism of disease is considered to be peripheral nerve demyelination. We present a patient with binocular diplopia and a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis from 15 years prior. Electrophysiologic studies revealed a decremental response on repetitive nerve stimulation, suggesting recurrent myasthenia. However, pupillary light-near dissociation and areflexia were present and positive anti-GQ1b antibodies confirmed MFS. This patient highlights a developing recognition of impaired neuromuscular transmission in MFS. His presentation is discussed in the context of the animal and human literature on neuromuscular junction abnormalities in MFS.
Reoxygenation in a rat rhabdomyosarcoma tumor following X-irradiation.

Abstract The paired survival curve technique was used to characterize the rate at which the fraction of hypoxic cells in rat rhabdomyosarcoma R-1 tumors returns to the preirradiation value of 37% following a single dose of 225-kVp X rays. Tumors were administered a conditioning x-ray dose of 15-Gy, followed at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, or 48 hr by a 5Gy, 10-Gy, or 15-Gy dose of X rays under air-breathing conditions or under hypoxic conditions produced by nitrogen-gas asphyxiation 5 min prior to irradiation. Cellular surviving fractions were determined by the tumor excision assay following in vivo irradiation. From the ratio of the survival fractions measured for tumor cells from air-breathing and hypoxic animals, the fraction of hypoxic cells was determined as a function of time postirradiation. These results indicated that immediately following a 15-Gy dose of X rays, essentially 100% of the viable cells remaining were hypoxic. The tumors reoxygenated rapidly, returning to the preirradiation level of 37% during the first 6 hr postirradiation.
EXAMINATION OF ACTIN POLYMERIZATION AND VISCOSITY INDUCED BY CATIONS AND IONIC STRENGTH WHEN CROSS‐LINKED BY α‐ACTININ

Increasing potassium chloride concentration from 0 to 100 mM and magnesium chloride from 0 to 2 mM show a parallel rate increase in polymerizing actin, whereas increasing calcium chloride concentration from 0 to 0.2 mM decreases the rate of polymerizing actin. The presence of alpha-actinin has little influence on the polymerization kinetics of actin under these conditions. Viscometric measurements indicate that the presence of various mono- and divalent cations, ionic strength, and alpha-actinin in combination are responsible for changes in the mechanical properties of solutions containing actin. The actin filament dynamic behavior is drastically reduced under these conditions as confirmed by quasi-elastic light scattering.
Photodynamic dose does not correlate with long-term tumor response to mTHPC-PDT performed at several drug-light intervals.

Meso-tetra-hydroxyphenyl-chlorin (mTHPC, Foscan registered ), a promising photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT), is approved in Europe for the palliative treatment of head and neck cancer. Based on work in mice that investigated optimal tumor accumulation, clinical protocols with Foscan registered typically employ an interval of 96 h between systemic sensitizer administration and irradiation. However, recent studies in mouse tumor models have demonstrated significantly improved long-term tumor response when irradiation is performed at shorter drug-light intervals of 3 and 6 h. Using a previously published theoretical model of microscopic PDT dosimetry and informed by experimentally determined photophysical properties and intratumor sensitizer concentrations and distributions, we calculated photodynamic dose depositions following mTHPC-PDT for drug-light intervals of 3, 6, 24, and 96 h. Our results demonstrate that the singlet oxygen dose to the tumor volume does not track even qualitatively with tumor responses for these four drug-light intervals. Further, microscopic analysis of simulated singlet oxygen deposition shows that in no case do any subpopulations of tumor cells receive a threshold dose. Indeed, under the conditions of these simulations more than 90% of the tumor volume receives a dose that is approximately 20-fold lower than the threshold dose for mTHPC. Thus, in this evaluationmore » of mTHPC-PDT at various drug-light intervals, any PDT dose metric that is proportional to singlet oxygen creation and/or deposition would fail to predict the tumor response. In situations like this one, other reporters of biological response to therapy would be necessary.« less
Effects of physicochemical factors on the growth of mandibular condyles in vitro

Cartilage growth and remodeling are known to be influenced by the biochemical and mechanical environment of the tissue. Previous investigators have shown that chemical factors that are relevant to mechanical loading, such as osmotic pressure and pH, induce changes in cartilage metabolism in vitro. Using a neonatal rat mandibular condyle culture system, the objectives of the work reported here were to determine (1) how the growth is influenced by osmotically applied mechanical loads; and (2) whether changes in intratissue osmotic pressure or pH cause metabolic changes in the cartilage which are then reflected by altered growth behavior. High molecular weight (MW) uncharged macromolecules polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and Ficoll (presumed unable to penetrate the tissue matrix) were used to examine the effect of osmotic loading on tissue growth; concentrations corresponding to osmotic pressures of up to 100 kPa resulted in a dose-dependent depression in growth and matrix accumulation. Raffinose (which can penetrate the matrix but not the cells) had no significant effect on growth for osmotic pressures of up to 87 kPa, suggesting that compression-induced changes in intratissue osmotic pressure are unlikely to provide a signal by which cells sense and respond to mechanical compression. By contrast, changes in medium pH resulted in dose-dependent changes in growth behavior. Specifically, slight alkalinity (acidity) greatly enhanced (diminished) growth and matrix accumulation; the sensitivity to pH suggests that intratissue pH could provide a mechanism for cells to sense local glycosaminoglycan concentration and mechanical compression. These data are also significant in that, while previous investigators have shown that osmotic forces and pH affect biosynthetic rates in short-term culture, the present studies indicate that resultant changes in biosynthesis lead to altered growth rates.
A comparison of the rates of cisplatin (cDDP)--induced nephrotoxicity associated with sodium loading or sodium loading with forced diuresis as a preventative measure.

Objective. To determine whether forced diuresis and sodium loading or sodium loading alone is better at preventing cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.Methods. Records of 92 patients receiving cisplat...
Stress-free motion of dislocation arrays

Abstract We consider infinite arrays of dislocations in simple lattice models and show that stress-free uniform motion of an array of screw dislocations in a twist boundary can occur for a range of values of the spacing between dislocations.
Angiogenic modulators in valve development and disease: does valvular disease recapitulate developmental signaling pathways?

Purpose of review Neovascularization is a recognized feature of many valvular diseases and is established by numerous angiogenic modulators. Less known is that angiogenic modulators are multifunctional and have additional roles in valve development and disease. Recent advancements in this area are described. Recent findings Initiation of epithelial to mesenchymal transformation, a developmental induction that specifies primordial interstitial cells (mesenchymal cells), requires vascular endothelial growth factor A, which stimulates matrix metalloproteinase 2 production and the invasive migration of mesenchymal cells. Epithelial to mesenchymal transformation also requires the matrix component hyaluronan to facilitate signaling through ErbB2/ErbB3 receptors and then is terminated by an increase in vascular endothelial growth factor A expression. Fibroblast growth factor 4 has been implicated in stimulating the following stage of proliferative expansion. Subsequently, in the remodeling phase, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor limits mesenchymal cell proliferation by signaling through the EGFR/ErbB1 receptor. Many adult valvular lesions appear similar to the embryonic proliferative expansion phase as they exhibit accumulations of extracellular matrix and myofibroblasts (a mesenchyme-like interstitial cell). The origins of such lesions may involve transforming growth factor beta 1. Similar to epithelial to mesenchymal transformation, tumor growth factor beta1 can induce cultured valvular endothelial cells to transdifferentiate to a myofibroblast-like phenotype. This scenario may occur in carcinoid valve disease because serotonin can induce interstitial cell expression of tumor growth factor beta1. Additionally, prolonged tumor growth factor beta1 activity may predispose to calcific degeneration. Calcific leaflets also exhibit tenascin-C, which may facilitate inflammatory cell migration through upregulation of pro-matrix metalloproteinase 2. Summary Numerous angiogenic modulators control multiple stages of valvulogenesis and in the context of adult valvular disease may recapitulate their embryonic roles. Thus, lessons learned from valvulogenesis may provide insights into the molecular basis of adult valvular disease.
Methylated DNA-binding protein from human placenta recognizes specific methylated sites on several prokaryotic DNAs

Methylated DNA-binding protein (MDBP) from human placenta recognizes specific DNA sequences containing 5-methylcytosine (m5C) residues. Comparisons of binding of various prokaryotic DNAs to MDBP indicate that m5CpG is present in the recognition sites for this protein but is only part of the recognition sequence. Specific binding to MDBP was observed for bacteriophage XP12 DNA, which naturally contains approximately 1/3 of its residues as m5C, and for Micrococcus luteus DNA, M13mp8 replicative form (RF) DNA, and pBR322 when these three DNAs were methylated at CpG sites by human DNA methyltransferase. Five DNA regions binding to MDBP have been localized by DNase I footprinting or restriction mapping in methylated pBR322 and M13mp8 RF DNAs. A comparison of their sequences reveals a common 5'-m5CGRm5CG-3' element or closely related sequence in which one of the m5C residues may be replaced by a T. In addition to this motif, one upstream and one downstream m5CpG as well as other common residues over an approximately 20-bp long region may be recognized by MDBP.
Counterstreaming-electron-beam wake-field accelerator.

An advanced accelerator is proposed. The counterstreaming-electron-beam wake-field accelerator replaces the stationary background plasma of the plasma wake-field accelerator by a magnetized electron beam (relativistic factor ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{d}$), drifting antiparallel to the driving electron beam and driven particles. Both the transformer ratio and the plasma wavelength are increased by a factor of f\ensuremath{\sim}2${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{d}$, thus dramatically enhancing the energy gain of the driven particles per acceleration stage. Furthermore, the particle-trapping threshold is greatly reduced so that proton acceleration may be possible.
Structure of Pumilio reveals similarity between RNA and peptide binding motifs.

Abstract Translation regulation plays an essential role in the differentiation and development of animal cells. One well-studied case is the control of hunchback mRNA during early Drosophila embryogenesis by the trans-acting factors Pumilio, Nanos, and Brain Tumor. We report here a crystal structure of the critical region of Pumilio, the Puf domain, that organizes a multivalent repression complex on the 3′ untranslated region of hunchback mRNA. The structure reveals an extended, rainbow shaped molecule, with tandem helical repeats that bear unexpected resemblance to the armadillo repeats in β-catenin and the HEAT repeats in protein phosphatase 2A. Based on the structure and genetic experiments, we identify putative interaction surfaces for hunchback mRNA and the cofactors Nanos and Brain Tumor. This analysis suggests that similar features in helical repeat proteins are used to bind extended peptides and RNA.