cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel Serum and Urine Markers for Pediatric Appendicitis

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2012; 19: 56–62 © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Abstract Objectives: The objective was to describe the association between two novel biomarkers, calprotectin and leucine-rich alpha glycoprotein-1 (LRG), and appendicitis in children. Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study of children 3 to 18 years old presenting to a pediatric emergency department (ED) with possible appendicitis. Blood and urine samples were assayed for calprotectin and LRG via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Final diagnosis was determined by histopathology or telephone follow-up. Biomarker levels were compared for subjects with and without appendicitis. Recursive partitioning was used to identify thresholds that predicted appendicitis. Results: Of 176 subjects, mean (±SD) age was 11.6 (±4.0) years and 52% were male. Fifty-eight patients (34%) were diagnosed with appendicitis. Median plasma calprotectin, serum LRG, and urine LRG levels were higher in appendicitis versus nonappendicitis (p < 0.008). When stratified by perforation status, median plasma calprotectin and serum LRG levels were higher in nonperforated appendicitis versus nonappendicitis (p < 0.01). Median serum LRG, urine LRG, and plasma calprotectin levels were higher in perforated appendicitis compared to nonperforated appendicitis (p < 0.05). Urine calprotectin did not differ among groups. A serum LRG < 40,150 ng/mL, a urine LRG < 42 ng/mL, and a plasma calprotectin < 159 ng/mL, each provided a sensitivity and negative predictive value of 100% to identify children at low risk for appendicitis, but with specificities ranging from 23% to 35%. The standard white blood cell (WBC) count achieved 100% sensitivity at a higher specificity than both novel biomarkers. Conclusions: Plasma calprotectin and serum/urine LRG are elevated in pediatric appendicitis. No individual marker performed as well as the WBC count.
Neural Correlates of a Spatial Sensory-To-Motor Transformation in Primary Motor Cortex

Shen, Liming and Garrett E. Alexander. Neural correlates of a spatial sensory-to-motor transformation in primary motor cortex. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 1171–1194, 1997. Primary motor cortex (MC) has be...
New magnetostrictive materials and transducers—II

Abstract This paper introduces new design techniques and transducer materials now becoming available which appear very promising for use in medium and high-intensity ultrasonics (sonar and industrial processing). Comparisons are made with the more conventional materials and systems.
Microscopic scale simulation of the ablation of fibrous materials

This slide presentation reviews the ablation by oxidation of carbon-fiber preforms impregnated in carbonized phenolic-formaldehyde matrix is modeled at microscopic scale. Direct numerical simulations show that the matrix ablates in volume leaving the carbon fibers exposed. This is due to the fact that the reactivity of carbonized phenolics is higher than the reactivity of carbon fibers. After the matrix is depleted, the fibers ablate showing progressive reduction of their diameter. The overall material recession occurs when the fibers are consumed. Two materials with the same carbon-fiber preform, density and chemical composition, but with different matrix distributions are studied. These studies show that at moderate temperatures (< 1000K) the microstructure of the material influences its recession rate; a fact that is not captured by current models that are based on chemical composition only. Surprisingly, the response of these impregnated-fiber materials is weakly dependent on the microstructure at very high temperatures (e.g., Stardust peak heating conditions: 3360K).
Acute effects of natural and synthetic cannabis compounds on prolactin levels in human males.

Abstract Plasma prolactin levels were determined in 23 adult males prior to and following administration of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (17.5 mg orally), a synthetic cannabis compound, Nabilone (2 mg orally), a 1-g marihuana cigarette containing 1.83% THC, smoked under controlled conditions and placebo capsules and cigarettes for each of the active cannabis compounds. In order to control for possible influence of previous cannabis use history on prolactin response, three groups of subjects were studied— regular (daily) marihuana users, intermittent (weekly) marihuana users, and occasional (monthly) marihuana users. Each subject served as his own control for each drug condition. Double blind studies were conducted on a residential research ward. All baseline prolactin values were within the normal range for healthy adult males. There were no statistically significant differences in plasma prolactin levels among the three subject groups prior to administration of THC, Nabilone, marihuana or their respective placebos. There were no statistically significant changes in prolactin levels following TCH, Nabilone or marihuana smoking. Only placebo administration to regular and occasional marihuana users was followed by a significant increase in plasma prolactin levels. These findings indicate that acute administration of cannabis compounds, either orally or via smoking, does not significantly affect plasma prolactin levels in adult human males.
Microbial reduction of Fe(III) in hematite nanoparticles by Geobacter sulfurreducens.

The rates of microbial Fe(III) reduction of three sizes of hematite nanoparticles by Geobacter sulfurreducens were measured under two H2 partial pressures (0.01 and 1 atm) and three pH (7.0, 7.5, a...
Pathways for Carboxylic Acid Decomposition on Transition Metal Oxides

Abstract The concept of structure sensitivity is well established for reactions catalyzed by metals as it has been generally demonstrated by the use of supported metal catalysts exhibiting different particle size [l-71. The con-cept of structure sensitivity in catalysis by metal oxides is considerably less well developed than in catalysis by metals, in spite of the growing number of examples of such reactions. Characterization of oxide catalyst is generally more problematical than that of metal; it is difficult, for example, to titrate the active surface areas of supported oxides by chemisorption techniques. Carboxylic acid decomposition could be used as a probe to establish struc-tural dependence and selectivity on metal oxides. For example, in the case of formic acid decomposition, bimolecular decomposition of two adsorbed formates occurs on a surface with Ti4+ cation of fourfold oxygen coordi-znation while unimolecular decomposition occurs in the case of formates adsorbed on Ti4+ fivefold coordinated c...
Leavers, Movers, and Stayers: The Role of Workplace Conditions in Teacher Mobility Decisions

The author explored whether 3 workplace conditions were related to teacher mobility decisions. The modeling strategy incorporated a series of binomial and multinomial logistic models to estimate the effects of administrative support, classroom control, and behavioral climate on teachers' decisions to quit teaching or switch schools. The results indicate that 2 of the 3 workplace conditions were strongly related to the mobility decisions of 1st-year teachers, whereas experienced teachers were not strongly influenced by workplace conditions. Results also show that the workplace conditions had differential effects on movers and leavers, suggesting the importance of modeling these 2 groups separately.
Contextual fear, gestalt memories, and the hippocampus

This review examines the relationship between exploration and contextual fear conditioning. The fear acquired to places or contexts associated with aversive events is a form of Pavlovian conditioning. However, an initial period of exploration is necessary to allow the animal to form an integrated memory of the features of the context before conditioning can take place. The hippocampal formation plays a critical role in this process. Cells within the dorsal hippocampus are involved in the formation, storage and consolidation of this integrated representation of context. Projections from the subiculum to the nucleus accumbens regulate the exploration necessary for the acquisition of information about the features of the context. This model explains why electrolytic but not excitotoxic lesions of the dorsal hippocampus cause enhanced exploratory activity but both cause deficits in contextual fear. It also explains why retrograde amnesia of contextual fear is greater than anterograde amnesia.
Equivalence of methods for determining the presence of a massless particle

It is demonstrated that Streater’s proof of the relation between spontaneously broken symmetries and zero-mass particles is equivalent to the usual one. Several models are given to illustrate this equivalence.
Comparison of Historical Documents for Writership

Over the last century forensic document science has developed progressively more sophisticated pattern recognition methodologies for ascertaining the authorship of disputed documents. These include advances not only in computer assisted stylometrics, but forensic handwriting analysis. We present a writer verification method and an evaluation of an actual historical document written by an unknown writer. The questioned document is compared against two known handwriting samples of Herman Melville, a 19th century American author who has been hypothesized to be the writer of this document. The comparison led to a high confidence result that the questioned document was written by the same writer as the known documents. Such methodology can be applied to many such questioned documents in historical writing, both in literary and legal fields.
Adherence to adjuvant hormonal therapy among breast cancer survivors in clinical practice: a systematic review.

Adjuvant hormonal therapy significantly improves long-term survival of breast cancer patients with hormone receptor-positive disease. Despite the proven clinical efficacy of tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors, many breast cancer survivors either fail to take the correct dosage at the prescribed frequency (adherence) or discontinue therapy (persistence). This systematic review aims to: (1) determine the prevalence of adherence and persistence to adjuvant hormonal therapy among breast cancer survivors in clinical practice, and (2) identify correlates of adherence and persistence. We searched Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL for studies that measured rates and/or correlates of adherence and/or persistence to adjuvant hormonal therapy. Studies were reviewed in a multi-step process: (1) the lead author screened titles and abstracts of all potentially eligible studies; (2) each coauthor reviewed a random 5 % sample of abstracts; and (3) two sets of coauthors each reviewed half of all “maybe” abstracts. Any disagreements were discussed until consensus was reached. Twenty-nine studies met inclusion criteria. Prevalence of adherence ranged from 41 to 72 % and discontinuation (i.e., nonpersistence) ranged from 31 to 73 %, measured at the end of 5 years of treatment. Extremes of age (older or younger), increasing out-of-pocket costs, follow-up care with a general practitioner (vs. oncologist), higher CYP2D6 activity, switching from one form of therapy to another, and treatment side effects were negatively associated with adherence and/or persistence. Taking more medications at baseline, referral to an oncologist, and earlier year at diagnosis were positively associated with adherence and/or persistence. Adherence and persistence to adjuvant hormonal therapy among breast cancer survivors is suboptimal. Many of the correlates of adherence and persistence studied to date are not modifiable. Our review reveals a critical need for further research on modifiable factors associated with adherence to adjuvant hormonal therapy, and the development of behavioral interventions to improve adherence in this population.
Processor scheduling in shared memory multiprocessors

Existing work indicates that the commonly used “single queue of runnable tasks” approach to scheduling shared memory multiprocessors can perform very poorly in a multiprogrammed parallel processing environment. A more promising approach is the class of “two-level schedulers” in which the operating system deals solely with allocating processors to jobs while the individual jobs themselves perform task dispatching on those processors.In this paper we compare two basic varieties of two-level schedulers. Those of the first type, static, make a single decision per job regarding the number of processors to allocate to it. Once the job has received its allocation, it is guaranteed to have exactly that number of processors available to it whenever it is active. The other class of two-level scheduler, dynamic, allows each job to acquire and release processors during its execution. By responding to the varying parallelism of the jobs, the dynamic scheduler promises higher processor utilizations at the cost of potentially greater scheduling overhead and more complicated application level task control policies.Our results, obtained via simulation, highlight the tradeoffs between the static and dynamic approaches. We investigate how the choice of policy is affected by the cost of switching a processor from one job to another. We show that for a wide range of plausible overhead values, dynamic scheduling is superior to static scheduling. Within the class of static schedulers, we show that, in most cases, a simple “run to completion” scheme is preferable to a round-robin approach. Finally, we investigate different techniques for tuning the allocation decisions required by the dynamic policies and quantify their effects on performance.We believe our results are directly applicable to many existing shared memory parallel computers, which for the most part currently employ a simple “single queue of tasks” extension of basic sequential machine schedulers. We plan to validate our results in future work through implementation and experimentation on such a system.
Railroad deregulation, carrier behavior, and shipper response: A disaggregated analysis

The Staggers Rail Act of 1980 provided American railroads with almost complete relief from rate regulation. Regulatory reforms resulted in rapid and pronounced changes in firm behavior and an eventual reconfiguration of the industry as a whole. This investigation provides a highly disaggregated study of deregulated rail rates for seventeen commodities. The results indicate that the Staggers Act fundamentally altered the way in which rail carriers price their services. As importantly, the results suggest that shippers have responded to altered railroad behavior by changing the characteristics of their shipments. Together, the changes in railroad behavior and shipper responses to these variations have produced lower railroad rates for a small but measurable number of movements across a wide range of commodities.
Transvaginal cholecystectomy by using a prototype flexible clip applier.

Background Currently, no endoscopic clips have been proven to be effective in ligating the cystic duct in natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) hybrid cholecystectomy. Objective To determine the safety and feasibility of a prototype endoscopic flexible clip applier, which is the only flexible device that deploys a zero-gap clip. Design Pilot study in a survival porcine model. Necropsy was performed at 2 weeks postprocedure. Setting University of Missouri animal laboratory, Columbia, Missouri. Intervention Transvaginal cholecystectomy was performed on 6 survival pigs using the NOTES Toolbox 1.0. Main Outcome Measurements Safety and feasibility of the described instrument. Investigators were asked to fill out a standardized, blinded questionnaire on the ease of use and functionality of the flexible clip applier. Results Clipping of the cystic duct was achieved with the flexible clip applier in all 6 pigs. The mean time for completion of clipping of the cystic duct was 9 minutes. Multiple attempts were required to successfully fire the clip in 2 of 6 pigs. We were unable to visualize the tip of the clip before deployment. Difficulty releasing the clip from the applier once fired and challenges in clip loading were encountered. The clips were visualized in place at necropsy, with no bile leakage, evidence of infection, or injury to surrounding structures seen in any cases. Limitations Preclinical animal model. Conclusion The prototype flexible clip applier showed adequate safety and was feasible in clipping the cystic duct in all animals. Design efforts to improve clip visualization, loading, and release are underway.
Localization of the Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome gene to chromosome 10q23

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome is a congenital syndrome with characteristic features of macrocephaly, cognitive and motor dysfunction, subcutaneous and visceral lipomas and hemangiomas, and intestinal juvenile polyposis. It has been suggested that Bannayan- Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome may be a variant of juvenile polyposis coli because of the shared features of intestinal juvenile polyps. The aim of this study was to precisely map loss of DNA from 2 patients with intestinal juvenile polyposis and karyotypic abnormalities involving chromosome 10q. METHODS: DNA was extracted from peripheral leukocytes drawn from each patient and each patient's biological parents. The DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using primers specific for microsatellites located on chromosome 10q. RESULTS: Precise mapping localized a maximal distance of 1.0 cM that was commonly deleted from each patient's genome, between D10S541 and D10S1735. This area overlaps the region for Cowden disease, a distinct hamartomatous intestinal polyposis syndrome with increased risk of breast and thyroid carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The three hamartomatous polyposis syndromes, Bannayan- Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, juvenile polyposis coli, and Cowden disease, may share the same genetic defect because of their common map localization to chromosome 10q23. (Gastroenterology 1997 Nov;113(5):1433-7)
Isolation of an inclusion body from sporulating, enterotoxin-positive Clostridium perfringens

Inclusion bodies (IB) synthesized during sporulation and enterotoxin formation by Clostridium perfringens were isolated. Sporulating cells were lysed by sonication in the presence of protease inhibitors. IB were isolated by centrifugation in linear gradients of sucrose, sodium bromide or sodium diatrizoate and banded at buoyant densities of 1.33–1.36 g/cm3, 1.30–1.34 g/cm3 and 1.33 g/cm3, respectively. Isolated IB were treated with detergent to remove attached cell membrane. They ranged in size from 0.5–1.4 μm long and from 0.2–0.5 μm wide. They were found to be serologically related to purified enterotoxin.
ACF with and without plates.

Abstract RE: Epstein, NE. Reoperation rates for acute graft extrusion and pseudarthrosis after one-level posterior corpectomy and fusion with and without plate instrumentation: etiology and corrective management. Surg Neurol 2001; 56:73–81. Reoperation rates after one-level ACF were evaluated in 48 nonplated and 35 plated patients. Of the 48 nonplated patients, 3 developed immediate graft extrusions requiring replacement; 2 others developed symptomatic pseudarthrosis within 6 months postoperatively, requiring posterior wiring and fusion. Of the 35 plated patients, 1 suffered plate displacement 6 weeks postoperatively, and 3 developed pseudarthrosis within 6 months requiring posterior wiring and fusion. The author concludes that plating does not appear to reduce pseudarthrosis or graft extrusion rates.
A Study of the Mental Model of a Complex Dynamic System: The Effect of Display Aiding and Contextual System Training

The acquisition of mental models and the effect of instructions and a display aid on the performance on a complex dynamic processing system were examined in this experiment. Thirty subjects monitored a dynamic bar graph display of six system variables and were tested under three different conditions: 1) subjects were given contextual instructions and a picture display-aid which provided a perceptual context in which to interpret the changing variables (group P/B). 2) Subjects were only provided non-context instructions and tested by a bar graph display (group B). 3) A transfer group was trained under the same condition as same as group P/B and tested with the bar graph display (group P/B - B). The data showed that the combination of the context instructions and the meaningful display aid improved subjects' performance significantly. The accuracy of diagnosis of the group P/B was the highest among the three groups. It was also seen that training with the context instructions themselves could improve the ac...
Activation of the Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Reporter in Developing Mouse Olfactory Nerve Layer Marks A Specialized Subgroup of Olfactory Ensheathing Cells

Wnt reporter TOPgal mice carry a β-galactosidase (βgal) gene under the control of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling responsive elements. We found that the intensely immunolabeled βgal+ cells were co-immunolabeled with Nestin and formed a tangentially oriented single-cell layer in the “connecting or docking zone” where the olfactory sensory axons attached to the brain surface during mid-gestation. During early postnatal development, βgal+ cells were located in the inner olfactory nerve layer (ONLi) and co-labeled with olfactory ensheathing cell (OEC) markers S100β and NPY but not with lineage-specific markers for neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and microglia, demonstrating that the TOPgal marked a subpopulation of OECs. By confocal microscopy, we found that TOPgal activated processes extended along the developing glomerulus and formed multiple tunnel-like structures that ensheathe and bridge olfactory sensory axonal bundles from ONLi to the glomerulus, which may play a key role in glomerulus formation and convergent sorting of the peripheral olfactory axons. Developmental Dynamics 237:3157–3168, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Velocity field distributions due to ideal line vortices.

We evaluate numerically the velocity field distributions produced by a bounded, two-dimensional fluid model consisting of a collection of parallel ideal line vortices. We sample at many spatial points inside a rigid circular boundary. We focus on ``nearest-neighbor'' contributions that result from vortices that fall (randomly) very close to the spatial points where the velocity is being sampled. We confirm that these events lead to a non-Gaussian high-velocity ``tail'' on an otherwise Gaussian distribution function for the Eulerian velocity field. We also investigate the behavior of distributions that do not have equilibrium mean-field probability distributions that are uniform inside the circle, but instead correspond to both higher and lower mean-field energies than those associated with the uniform vorticity distribution. We find substantial differences between these and the uniform case.
Decision interaction between auditory channels

Observers detected signals presented in a two-channel, simultaneous detection task at 630 and 1,400 Hz. The familiar pattern of interference between the frequency channels was observed: detectability in one channel was depressed on trials when a signal or a yes response occurred in the other channel. On each trial, measures were made of the energy within specified frequency bands around each signal frequency. The relationships between these measures and performance in each channel were studied. There was no consistent relationship between the magnitude of the measure in one channel and performance in the other. Interactions between the channels probably originate in the response process of the interfering channel
762 COINCIDENTAL VIRAL INFECTION IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF OVERWHELMING POST-SPLENECTOMY INFECTION(OPSI)

In order to explore the pathogenesis and relative infrequency of OPSI, we developed an animal model to test the role of coincidental viral infection in producing transient immunosuppression and predisposing to fatal sepsis in animals later challenged with S.pneumoniae. The role of S.pneumoniae vaccine and partial splenectomy were also evaluated. Sham(Sh), partial(PS) or total(TS) splenectomy were done on adult rabbits. Herpes simplex virus(HSV) infection was induced 3 weeks later; and 3 days after that a standard inoculum of type I S.pneumoniae was given I.V. As measured by serial lymphocyte blastogenesis, suppression was greater in virus-infected animals compared to matched controls(p<.01). Suppression tended to be greater in TS animals compared to Sh or PS(p<.10). Survival at 3 days for virus-infected animals was 46% vs. 67% for control animals(p<.15). However, only 25% of HSV-suppressed animals survived vs. 77% survival of non-suppressed animals(p<.005). Overall survival was 64%(Sh) and 60%(PS) vs.33%(TS) (p<06). Vaccination improved survival(68%vs.18%,p<.004). The only survivor with titer < 1:32 had Sh or PS; the only non-survivor with titer ≥1:32 had TS. The data suggest that coincidental viral infection predisposes splenectomized animals to fatal sepsis, whereas residual splenic tissue or vaccination provides partial protection against OPSI.
Current treatment and prognosis of Wilms' tumor.

Thanks to the nationally and internationally organized efforts refinements in the therapy of Wilms’ tumor have allowed restructuring and reduction of therapeutic strategies. A decrease in tumor relapse and long term sequelae are the immediate goals which will no doubt be the result of tailoring chemotherapy and radiation therapy exposure together with improved surgical techniques and outstanding supportive care.
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a disorder which afflicts children between the ages of 8 and 16 years of age. The underlying cause of SCFE is thought to be related to the relative weakness of the physis and strenuous physical activity in adolescence. If undetected SCFE can progress and cause significant complications such as AVN, avascular necrosis, leg length discrepancy, and premature osteoarthritis. Magnetic Resonance Imaging can detect early changes in the physis on T1 sequences and inversion recovery sequences and is a useful adjunct to plain radiographs in detecting early slips.
Dietary fat composition and dementia risk.

This is a qualitative review of the evidence linking dietary fat composition to the risk of developing dementia. The review considers laboratory and animal studies that identify underlying mechanisms as well as prospective epidemiologic studies linking biochemical or dietary fatty acids to cognitive decline or incident dementia. Several lines of evidence provide support for the hypothesis that high saturated or trans fatty acids increase the risk of dementia and high polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fatty acids decrease risk. Dietary fat composition is an important factor in blood-brain barrier function and the blood cholesterol profile. Cholesterol and blood-brain barrier function are involved in the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease, and the primary genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, apolipoprotein E-e4, is involved in cholesterol transport. The epidemiologic literature is seemingly inconsistent on this topic, but many studies are difficult to interpret because of analytical techniques that ignored negative confounding by other fatty acids, which likely resulted in null findings. The studies that appropriately adjust for confounding by other fats support the dietary fat composition hypothesis.
Genetics of Plumage Color Mutants in Japanese Quail

Abstract Five mutants, plus the wild-type, were evaluated to determine the mode of inheritance of plumage color in Japanese quail. Brown (E) is incompletely dominant to its wild-type allele (e+) and epistatic to yellow (Y). The phenotypic expression of the heterozygote (E/e+) is a brown bird with tan shafts. Shafts are heavier for quail that are brown/yellow (E/e+, Y/y+). White (wh) is recessive to its wild-type allele (Wh+) and complementary with brown (E). Tuxedo types result when at least one E and only one wh gene are present together. Yellow (Y), which is lethal in the homozygote, is dominant to its wild-type allele (y+). Sex-linked imperfect albino (al), sex-linked recessive dark-eyed dilute (alD) and their wild-type allele (Al+) form a triple allelic series with the heterozygote (al/alD) tending to be lighter in color than alD/alD or alD/0.
Effect of Family History on Outcomes in Patients Treated With Definitive Brachytherapy for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer

Purpose To determine the impact familial prostate cancer has on prognosis in men treated with brachytherapy for clinically localized prostate cancer. Methods and Materials A total of 1,738 consecutive patients with prostate cancer (cT1–3, N0/X, M0) received low-dose-rate brachytherapy alone or in combination with external beam radiation therapy or hormone ablation from 1992 to 2005. The primary end-point was freedom from biochemical failure (FFBF) using the Phoenix definition. Minimum follow-up was 2 years and the median follow-up was 60 months (range, 24–197 months). Results A total of 187 of 1,738 men (11%) had a family history of prostate cancer in a first-degree relative. For the low-risk patients, both groups had similar actuarial 5-year FFBF (97.2% vs. 95.5%, p = 0.516). For intermediate-risk patients, there was a trend toward improved biochemical control in men positive for family history (5-yr FFBF 100% vs. 93.6%, p = 0.076). For the high-risk patients, men with a positive family history had similar 5-year FFBF (92.8% vs. 85.2%, p = 0.124). On multivariate analysis, family history was not significant; use of hormones, high biologic effective dose, initial prostate-specific antigen value, and Gleason score were the significant variables predicting biochemical control. Conclusions This is the first study to examine the relationship of familial prostate cancer and outcomed in men treated with brachytherapy alone or in combination therapy. Men with a positive family history have clinicopathologic characteristics and biochemical outcomes similar to those with sporadic disease.
Observations of E-region irregularities at mid-latitudes

We discuss observations of E-region irregularities at mid-latitudes during the current and prior solar cycle. Our observations have been conducted using the Millstone Hill UHF Radar, the Manastash Ridge Radar, and the ISIS Array. The Millstone Hill UHF system is an incoherent scatter radar which observes at 440 MHz (68 cm) and is capable of detecting irregularities at large magnetic aspect angles. The Manastash Ridge Radar and ISIS array are passive radar systems which typically operate using FM radio signals (∼3 m) and have widely illuminated fields of view and both bi-static and multi-static geometries. Meter scale E-region irregularities commonly occur during active geomagnetic conditions. They are produced by strong electric fields in conjunction with density gradients and influenced strongly by the plasma composition and temperature environment. The geophysical drivers for the irregularities most often occur at mid-latitudes during significant geomagnetic events (e.g. Kp > 6) but can be associated with a variety of phenomena. These include structuring of the plasma sphere boundary layer, auroral current systems, and natural and artificial transient events. We will discuss observations to date of the irregularities and briefly describe the radar techniques which have been applied. Following this we will describe the meso-scale k-space dependence of the irregularities for the plasma spatial scales associated with our observational systems. Evolution of the irregularities in time and space will be discussed in the context of specific geophysical events. The relationship of the irregularities to magnetosphere ionosphere coupling will be briefly highlighted using satellite data to provide context. Finally, we will describe the prospects for new measurements, open questions which it may be possible to address experimentally, and the potential for meso-scale observation of irregularity events.
Reliability of Perceptual Voice Assessment.

Abstract One-hundred sixty-one school-age children were screened for any phonatory aspects that would be considered “voice disordered.” Three speech pathologists listened to tape recordings of each child and independently rated the samples indicating presence or absence of a possible voice problem. Results demonstrated poor interjudge agreement between the listeners and indicate a need for more objective measures in the identification of voice disorders.
Mechanistic Investigations of Human Reticulocyte 15- and Platelet 12-Lipoxygenases with Arachidonic Acid

Human reticulocyte 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15-hLO-1) and human platelet 12-lipoxygenase (12-hLO) have been implicated in a number of diseases, with differences in their relative activity potentially playing a central role. In this work, we characterize the catalytic mechanism of these two enzymes with arachidonic acid (AA) as the substrate. Using variable-temperature kinetic isotope effects (KIE) and solvent isotope effects (SIE), we demonstrate that both k(cat)/K(M) and k(cat) for 15-hLO-1 and 12-hLO involve multiple rate-limiting steps that include a solvent-dependent step and hydrogen atom abstraction. A relatively low k(cat)/K(M) KIE of 8 was determined for 15-hLO-1, which increases to 18 upon the addition of the allosteric effector molecule, 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), indicating a tunneling mechanism. Furthermore, the addition of 12-HETE lowers the observed k(cat)/K(M) SIE from 2.2 to 1.4, indicating that the rate-limiting contribution from a solvent sensitive step in the reaction mechanism of 15-hLO-1 has decreased, with a concomitant increase in the C-H bond abstraction contribution. Finally, the allosteric binding of 12-HETE to 15-hLO-1 decreases the K(M)[O(2)] for AA to 15 microM but increases the K(M)[O(2)] for linoleic acid (LA) to 22 microM, such that the k(cat)/K(M)[O(2)] values become similar for both substrates (approximately 0.3 s(-1) microM(-1)). Considering that the oxygen concentration in cancerous tissue can be less than 5 microM, this result may have cellular implications with respect to the substrate specificity of 15-hLO-1.
Concentration changes of free amino acids in primary bean leaves after continuous and interrupted SO2 fumigation and recovery

Abstract It was found that in primary leaves of beans the concentration of free amino acids changes dramatically after fumigation with SO2 at a concentration of 0·7 ± 0·1 ppm. In general, the SO2 fumigation increases the total amount of free amino acids. Reduction of aspartic acid and glutamic acid and increase ammonium and some other amino acids seems to be the most characteristic feature of SO2 fumigation. After 92 h recovery, a substantial decrease in the concentration of the total amino acids is observed, although it does not reach tontrol level. After shorter periods of treatment with SO2 the recovery seems to the more complete. SO2 reduces protein synthesis in fumigated plants in comparison with control plants. After recovery the protein content increases again to the control level in plants which have been treated up to 6 h/day. Longer fumigation periods always result in a decrease in the protein concentration. Some of the observed long duration phenomena can already be noted after only one hour's fumigation. Changes in the concentrations of the free amino acids were observed even when SO2 fumigation had not yet produced any visible injury to the leaves. It seems possible to use changes in the amino acid concentrations for analyses of sublethal ‘hidden’ injuries caused by SO2 fumigation.
Chapter 91 – Chronic Myelocytic Leukemia

Chronic myelocytic (myeloid) leukemia (CML) is marked by the unusual appearance of the affected cells. Although many have reported this condition in connection with certain occupational and other environmental causes, individual findings are very inconsistent. Like ANLL, ionizing radiation and treatment with highly toxic drugs used to treat cancer and other chronic diseases are the environmental exposures that have been commonly related to this disease. Incidence of CML is no higher among residents of Los Angeles County than among those of other regions of the country. Incidence begins rising in young adulthood, and is generally somewhat higher among men than among women. Incidence levels have been very consistent over time, both in the county as a whole and among the residents of high-risk census tracts. Incidence does not vary according to racial/ethnicity group or social class. No systematic pattern of geographical occurrence is apparent, and therefore no local source of causation is proposed.
Foreign investment and oil industry in the Persian Gulf states

Abstract In spite of abundant proven reserves and huge production capabilities, the Persian Gulf states have attracted little foreign investment in their oil industry. Indeed, the government still dominates the energy sector in the whole region. Since the mid 1990s, however, several Gulf states have taken steps to liberalize the ownership and management of their hydrocarbon resources. This study examines the current efforts (real and potential) in four Gulf states (Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia) to invite international companies back to their upstream oil sector. The paper argues that economic and strategic considerations are the main reasons behind this hesitant and slow opening. While Iran and Kuwait have taken the lead, Saudi Arabia is still reluctant and Iraq is waiting for the lifting of the international sanctions.
Quadrupole parameters of 11B in crystalline CaO.B2O3.

Abstract The quadrupole coupling constant (Qcc) and asymmetry parameter (η) of 11B in crystalline CaO·B2O3 have been measured employing three different NQR and NMR methods: (1) 11B and 10B NQR; (2) 11B NQR and NMR; and (3) the 11B Zeeman NQR powder pattern. It is found that Qcc = 2594.3 ± 0.5 kHz and η = 0.515 ± 0.001 at 77K, and Qcc = 2573.5 ± 0.5 kHz and η = 0.511 ± 0.002 at 300 K. These values are in agreement with, but far more accurate than, values obtained from a fourth procedure: measurement of the second-order quadrupolar effects evident in the m = + 1 2 ↔ m = − 1 2 transition of the 11B NMR spectrum.
Purification, crystallization and X-ray analysis of crystals of pectate lyase A from Erwinia chrysanthemi

Pectate lyase A is secreted by Erwinia chrysanthemi and is a virulence factor for soft rot diseases in plants. Crystals of pectate lyase A were obtained by vapor-diffusion techniques in the presence of polyethylene glycol. The crystals belong to the monoclinic space group P21, with unit-cell parameters a = 48.96, b = 148.86, c = 78.61 A, β = 97.32°. The crystals contain two protein molecules of 38 kDa per asymmetric unit and diffract to 2.4 A using Cu Kα radiation.
The average distribution of solar radiation-correlations between diffuse and hemispherical and between daily and hourly insolation values

Abstract The correlations of Hottel, Whillier, Liu and Jordan between diffuse and hemispherical, and between instantaneous (hourly) values and daily totals of solar radiation are recalibrated against pyrheliometer data for five stations in the U.S. The validity of the Liu and Jordan approach is confirmed, and numerical inaccuracies of the original correlations are found to arise from three factors: (i) reliance on uncorrected measurements of diffuse insolation with pyranometer plus shade ring, (ii) use of a single value of extraterrestrial insolation for a whole month, and (iii) neglect of seasonal variations in the diffuse/hemispherical ratio. The new correlation for the daily total ratio of diffuse over hemispherical insolation agrees with results reported for India, Israel and Canada which included the shade ring correction. This suggests that latitude independence is a good approximation. The new correlations imply that the diffuse component is significantly larger than that predicted by the original formulas of Liu and Jordan. Analytical expressions are presented the parameters of which are obtained by a least squares fit to the data. The resulting formulas provide a complete description of the long term average insolation incident on surfaces of arbitrary orientation; the only meteorological input is the long term average daily total of hemispherical insolation on the horizontal surface. Comparison between model and data shows an accuracy better than 3 per cent for the long term average insolation available to solar correctors, both fixed and tracking. The model provides a framework for optimal matching between solar radiation and ideal concentrators (based on the principle of phase space conservation). In addition to computing radiation availability for solar collectors, the model can be used for calculating heating and cooling loads of buildings.
Staggered stocking of Penaeus stylirostris in brackish-water ponds receiving power plant cooling water.

Blue shrimp (Penaeus stylirostris) were cultured in 11 0.1-ha earthen ponds during the spring and summer of 1979 to compare conventional and staggered stocking techniques. Three batches of post-larval shrimp (stocks I, II and III) were stocked at intervals of about 3.5 weeks. Seven thousand eight hundred stock I shrimp were introduced into each of 3 ponds, 7,800 stock II shrimp into each of 3 more ponds, and 2,435 stock III shrimp into each of 2 more ponds. Two additional ponds received approximately equal increments of the 3 batches to reach final stocking densities of 7,635. The final pond received only the first 2 increments for a final stocking density of 5,200. Survival and yield ranges were 18.4–63.2% and 3.3–45.0 kg/0.1 ha, respectively. Ponds that received 3 stocking increments had mean survival rates and yields (36.8%, 32.3 kg/0.1 ha) higher than expected values (32.2%, 22.5 kg/0.1 ha) calculated using the mean values from the single-stocked control ponds. Salinities were near 2 ppt (range, 1–6 ppt) for most of the 53- to 106-day culture period. This may have depressed shrimp growth.
Direct Instrumental Measurement of Skin Color in Broilers

Abstract A color reflectance method is described for the direct instrumental measurement of skin color in broilers. The method is more rapid than other methods currently in use and can be used on intact dressed broilers without resorting to removal of skin.
Exciton states in solid rare gases

The problem of the exciton states in solid rare gases is studied within the framework of the integral-equation approach appropriate for intermediate-coupling interaction. The different contributions appearing in the integral equation are investigated and related to physical quantities by means of an analysis of their behavior in the two limiting situations in which the effective-mass approximation (EMA) or the atomic solution holds. An approximate solution is given for the intermediate case using the simplest trial wave functions having the correct behavior in both limits. Quantitative results, obtained by this simple approach, are remarkably more accurate than both the EMA and the atomic values.
Influence of Lipid Chemistry on Membrane Fluidity: Tail and Headgroup Interactions

Membrane fluidity plays an important role in cell function and may, in many instances, be adjusted to facilitate specific cellular processes. To understand better the effect that lipid chemistry has on membrane fluidity the inclusion of three different lipids into egg phosphatidylcholine (eggPC) bilayers has been examined; the three lipids are egg phosphatidylethanolamine ((eggPE) made by transphosphatidylation of eggPC in the presence of ethanolamine), lyso-phosphatidylcholine (LPC), and lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine (LPE). The fluidity of the membranes was determined using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and the intermolecular interactions were examined using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. It was observed that both headgroup and tail chemistry can significantly modulate lipid diffusion. Specifically, the inclusion of LPC and eggPE significantly altered the lipid diffusion, increased and decreased, respectively, whereas the inclusion of LPE had an intermediate effect, a slight decrease in diffusion. Strong evidence for the formation of hydrogen-bonds between the phosphate group and the amine group in eggPE and LPE was observed with infrared spectroscopy. The biological implications of these results are discussed.
7α-Arylaliphatic androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-diones as enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitors of aromatase

Abstract Inhibition of aromatase, the enzyme responsible for converting androgens to estrogens, may be therapeutically useful for the endocrine treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer. Previous research on 7α-thiosubstituted androgens, especially 7α-(4′-aminophenylthio)-androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione, has shown that these compounds are potent enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitors of aromatase. Research on the synthesis of more metabolically stable inhibitors has focused on replacing the thioether linkage at the 7α position with a carbon-carbon linkage. Several 7α-arylaliphatic androst-4-ene-3,17-diones were previously shown to be potent competitive inhibitors of aromatase. The extension of the research on these 7α-arylaliphatic androgens includes the introduction of a C 1 C 2 double bond in the A-ring to provide enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitors. The desired 7α-arylaliphatic androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-diones were obtained from their corresponding 7α-arylaliphatic androst-4-ene-3,17-diones by oxidation using DDQ. A new improved synthesis of the 7α-arylaliphatic androst-4-ene-3,17-diones using an in situ preparation of the CuI-(n-Bu 3 )P complex was employed. The aryl ring of the 7α-phenethyl and 7α-phenpropyl derivatives were functionalized to their corresponding p -nitro and p -amino derivatives. These compounds were all potent inhibitors of aromatase with apparent K i s ranging between 7 and 19 nM. These inhibitors demonstrated enzymemediated inactivation of aromatase with apparent k inact s ranging from 4.4 × 10 −4 to 1.90 × 10 −3 /s. The best inactivator of the series was the 7α-phenpropylandrosta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione, which exhibited a T 1 2 of 6.08 min.
Habitat specialization and the role of trait lability in structuring diverse willow (genus Salix) communities

The co-occurrence of closely related species is challenging to explain because biotic filters are expected to limit the ecological similarity of species within communities. To investigate the mechanisms important in facilitating species' co-occurrence in diverse willow and poplar communities, we examined functional diversity and community phylogenetic structure along a hydrologic gradient. We focused on traits related to drought tolerance, leaf hydraulics, and recruitment, and examined species' phylogenetic relatedness and trait lability using a molecular phylogeny. Within habitats, species exhibited phenotypic clustering, and across the landscape, species distributions were correlated with their functional traits in a manner consistent with environmental filtering. With increasing water availability, commu- nities changed from being phylogenetically even to being phylogenetically clustered. We suggest that this shift results from environmental filtering acting on conserved traits in wet habitats and labile traits in dry habitats. Taken together, these results suggest that environmental filtering is important to community assembly along the entire hydrologic gradient within this system. Although many of the traits important to habitat specialization in upland habitats are phylogenetically labile, species' habitat affinity is phylogenetically conserved overall, indicating that niche conservatism can occur as an emergent property despite trait lability. This study demonstrates the complementary nature of trait and community phylogenetic analyses and how these methods can be used to better understand the processes involved in community assembly along environmental gradients.