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Background: Corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) is the principal carrier for glucocorticoids in the circulation and a regulator of their bioavailability. Inherited CBG deficiencies are rarely reported, and only three causative mutations in four families have been described. Patients, Methods, and Results: In a 26-yr-old female with hypotension, fatigue, and undetectable serum cortisol at presentation, we have identified a novel homozygous c.776g>t transversion in exon 3 of the CBG (SERPINA6) gene. This results in a p.Gly237Val substitution that is predicted to influence the positioning of two β-sheets that constitute part of the CBG steroid-binding site. Two siblings were also homozygous for the variant, whereas her mother and an unaffected sibling were heterozygous. No other symptomatic family members were identified apart from the proband. Individuals homozygous for the variant had serum CBG levels below the reference range when measured by RIA, but CBG was unmeasurable in cortisol-binding capacity assays. In the same individuals, we observed very low baseline and stimulated serum cortisol levels but normal free serum and salivary cortisol and plasma ACTH. In a study of ultradian cortisol pulsatility, increased pulse frequency was only observed in the proband. Conclusion: We describe a novel CBG variant that lacks steroid binding. All mutant homozygotes have very low serum cortisol, but normal free cortisol levels. The only biochemical feature to distinguish the symptomatic subject was increased cortisol pulsatility, and we suggest that this may influence glucocorticoid signaling and contribute to symptoms previously associated with CBG deficiency.

The present study was undertaken to determine the relationship between the hyaluronate receptor and CD44 (H-CAM), cell-surface glycoproteins of similar molecular weights that have been implicated in cell adhesion. In initial experiments, a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against CD44 were tested for their ability to cross react with the hyaluronate receptor. These antibodies immunoprecipitated [3H]hyaluronate binding activity from detergent extracts of both mouse and human cells, indicating that the hyaluronate receptor is identical to CD44. In addition, one of these antibodies (KM-201 to mouse CD44) directly blocked the binding of labeled hyaluronate to the receptor and inhibited hyaluronate dependent aggregation of SV-3T3 cells. CD44 has also been implicated in lymphocyte binding to high endothelial venules during lymphocyte homing. Interestingly, the monoclonal antibody Hermes- 3, which blocks lymphocyte binding to the high endothelial venules of mucosal lymphoid tissue, had no effect on the binding of labeled hyaluronate. Furthermore, the binding of lymphocytes to high endothelial cells of lymph nodes and mucosal lymphoid tissue was not significantly affected by treatment with agents that block the binding of hyaluronate (hyaluronidase, excess hyaluronate and specific antibodies). Thus, CD44 appears to have at least two distinct functional domains, one for binding hyaluronate and another involved in interactions with mucosal high endothelial venules.

Analysis of the ($00l$) x-ray diffractograms of graphite intercalation compounds reveals important structural information concerning these compounds. In particular, the in-plane intercalate density is observed to depart from the commonly accepted stoichiometric values. This result has important implications concerning various structural phase transformations that have been reported in these materials. The application of Fourier synthesis to the ($00l$) integrated intensities yields the projected structure of the intercalate layer onto the $c$ axis. A least-squares refinement program RFINE4 was used to analyze the ($00l$) integrated intensities, yielding in-plane intercalate densities, Debye-Waller temperature factors, and various layer separations. The graphite-graphite layer separations were found to be not significantly different from the values for pristine graphite. Connections of the results of ($00l$) x-ray diffraction with other structural-analysis techniques such as electron diffraction and electron microscopy are discussed.

Lattice dynamical properties of antiferromagnetic f. c. c. Mn 83 Ni 11 C 6 and Mn 85 Ni 9 C 6 have been studied by means of ultrasonics and neutron scattering. The two alloys illustrate how, with increase of manganese content across this region of the constitution diagram, severe elastic anomalies develop in these materials. In particular, for these concentrations the magnitude of the elastic stiffness constant C 11 begins to fall off drastically towards the lower temperatures, passing below C 44 ; in Mn 85 Ni 9 C 6 it reduces with reducing temperature to such an extent that a cubic-to-tetragonal martensitic transformation is induced. At the transformation temperature C 11 has a minimum, rising again thereafter. A detailed study has been made of one specimen of Mn 85 Ni 9 C 6 that showed a nearly second-order structure transition. In this sample, 1/2( C 11 — C 12 ) softens linearly with temperature, reaching 0.27 x 10 10 N m -2 ( x 10 11 dyn cm -2 ) at the transformation temperature T m = 174 ± 2 K, where Zener’s anisotropy parameter attains the value 36. Other elastic properties likewise prove to be extremely unusual, with longitudinal sound propagating more slowly than transverse sound along the cube axis directions. Phonon energy measurements, made to an accuracy of about 40 μeV, show however that as a function of wavevector appreciable phonon softening is restricted to a small central region of the Brillouin zone within about a tenth of a reciprocal lattice unit of the origin. The anomalous inter-atomic forces responsible are markedly non-central, and it is argued they are a consequence of an enhanced electron-phonon interaction arising because the manganese moment is unstable. The applicability of molecular field theory to the transition is well confirmed, the critical index γ of the order parameter above T m being obtained as 1.03 ± 0.07.

Raman and infrared spectra on well-staged graphite-Al${\mathrm{Cl}}_{3}$ are reported for compounds with stages $n=1, 2, 4, \mathrm{and} 8$. Of significance is the absence of infrared-active modes for stage-1 graphite-Al${\mathrm{Cl}}_{3}$ and the presence in stages 2, 4, and 8 of three infrared-active modes in the vicinity of the graphite ${E}_{1u}$ mode. The Raman-active modes in graphite-Al${\mathrm{Cl}}_{3}$ behave similarly to the corresponding bounding-layer and interiorlayer graphitic modes in graphite-Fe${\mathrm{Cl}}_{3}$ with regard to the stage dependence of the peak frequencies and relative intensities.

The temperature dependence of gauge factor and magnetoresistance for two types of foil strain gauge commonly used in magnetostriction measurements has been investigated. Although the temperature variation of gauge factor for either type does not change significantly from one batch to another, the magnetoresistance in Ni-Cr alloy gauges is less predictable. The relative merits of the two types are discussed.

The method of matched asymptotic expansions is used to analyze the asymptotic behavior of the real zeros of, and error incurred by, Padé approximants to e − x {e^{ - x}} . These approximants are of interest because of their application in solving systems of ordinary differential equations arising from mathematical models of physical processes, for example, the heat equation.

The preparation and stage characterization of high stage (n⪖5) potassium and rubidium donor compounds are discussed. Stage homogeneity is evaluated using the X-ray diffraction technique with particular emphasis given to low order index reflections. Sample composition is varied within the same crystal by small variations in the growth process, and air stability is investigated over this dilute concentration range.

Previous measurements of the magnetostriction constant h1−h5 for iron at room temperature are compared and are found to disagree. These constants have been redetermined paying specific attention to the errors involved in the measurements and subsequent analysis of experimental data.

We present the first detailed study of the stage dependence of the IR- and Raman-active optic graphitic modes in a graphite acceptor intercalation compound. The general frequency upshift observed with increasing FeCl3 concentration for all optic modes is interpreted to indicate an in-plane compression within the graphitic layers. An identification of the IR-active modes with bounding and interior graphite layers is made. A lineshape analysis of the IR spectra implies IR dipole moments corresponding to ∼70% of the effective charge in the graphite bounding layers, independent of stage, and ∼30% distributed among the graphite interior layers for stage n⩾3 compounds.

In East Anglia in 1983–84, Marsh Harriers preyed upon most species of birds and mammals present in their hunting areas. Small birds, young gamebirds and waterbirds and mammals formed 90-95% of the diet by numbers and weight. Small adult birds and mammals were important in April-May, but thereafter young gamebirds and waterbirds formed an increasing proportion of the diet, whilst the proportion of mammals declined. Females and polygynous males took larger prey after the young had hatched than did monogynous males. There was no difference in the proportions of large prey taken by polygynous males and the much larger females. There was some evidence of a difference in diet for monogynous males, in the latter part of the season, when they took fewer mammals and more small birds. Polygynous males took larger prey later in the season, mainly by taking larger individuals of the same species. There was no evidence that the proportion of large prey brought by males to individual nests was linked to brood size.

Utilization of orthodontic services may be influenced as much by the social and cultural setting as by objective criteria. The public's assessment of dental irregularity and its perceptions of the psychosocial implications of malocclusion may be critical factors in the utilization of available services. To test these assumptions, two communities with historic differences in the availability and utilization of orthodontic services were selected as survey sites (Lexington, Kentucky, and Cardiff, Wales). Three-hundred eighty-five sixth grade children (11 to 12 years of age) and 123 of their parents were interviewed concerning dental esthetics, treatment need, and knowledge about, attitudes toward, and value placed on orthodontic treatment. Although the Lexington respondents had greater personal and indirect knowledge about such services, they did not have more positive perceptions about treatment; nor did they value straight teeth more highly. There were no significant differences between the groups' judgement of dental esthetics or assessment of treatment need. The differences in utilization of services in the two communities could not be explained in terms of differences in attitude toward malocclusion and orthodontic treatment.

The first observation of IR-active optic modes in donor graphite intercalation compounds is reported. For stage 1 and 2 compounds with K, Rb and Cs no graphitic optic mode in the 1600 cm -1 region is observed, while more dilute compounds exhibit strong IR-active modes with a stage-dependent mode frequency that is downshifted with increasing donor intercalate concentration. This mode frequency shift is opposite in sign and much larger in magnitude than for acceptor compounds. Analysis of the lattice mode effective charge indicates a significant amount of dynamic charge residing in the interior graphitic layers.

The understanding of electronic and lattice properties of graphite intercalation compounds depends critically on the model describing the structural properties. We report here results showing that well-staged as-grown samples do not exhibit the expected in-plane intercalant density, and that careful analysis of the 00l x-ray diffractograms reveals important information on the in-plane occupation probability.

Lake Itasca, Minnesota, is cutrophic with a clinograclc oxygen profile. The profundal and sublittoral bottom fauna is dominated by Chironomus plumosus and Chnohorzls punctipennis. ProcZ~~tlius sp. and Pdpomyia sp. are next in abundance. Pisidit~m and oligochactcs, cspccially, arc rare. From 27 Ekman dredge samples taken from depths of 5.5-10.2 m in the north arm during the period 10-22 July 1964, a total macrobenthic fauna of 16,165,30O/ha in the sublittoral zone and 14,843,57O/ha in the profundal zone was cstimatcd. The total formalin weights were 418.8 kg/ha and 265.3 kg/ha in the sublittoral and profundal zones, respcctivcly; for the entire area sampled this amounted to 300.3 kg/ha. The peak of the biomass was 56.7.5 kg/ha at the sublittoral-profundal boundary. Over 90% of the weight was contributed by C. plumosus. Lnkc Itasca may bc the third richest lake in the United States in benthic standing crop.

Background: Median overall survival (OS) for women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is similar to 4 years, yet survival varies widely between patients. There are no well-established, gene expression signatures associated with prognosis. The aim of this study was to develop a robust prognostic signature for OS in patients with HGSOC. Patients and methods: Expression of 513 genes, selected from a meta-analysis of 1455 tumours and other candidates, was measured using NanoString technology from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumour tissue collected from 3769 women with HGSOC from multiple studies. Elastic net regularization for survival analysis was applied to develop a prognostic model for 5-year OS, trained on 2702 tumours from 15 studies and evaluated on an independent set of 1067 tumours from six studies. Results: Expression levels of 276 genes were associated with OS (false discovery rate < 0.05) in covariate-adjusted single-gene analyses. The top five genes were TAP1, ZFHX4, CXCL9, FBN1 and PTGER3 (P < 0.001). The best performing prognostic signature included 101 genes enriched in pathways with treatment implications. Each gain of one standard deviation in the gene expression score conferred a greater than twofold increase in risk of death [hazard ratio (HR) 2.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.02-2.71; P < 0.001]. Median survival [HR (95% CI)] by gene expression score quintile was 9.5 (8.3 to -), 5.4 (4.6-7.0), 3.8 (3.3-4.6), 3.2 (2.9-3.7) and 2.3 (2.1-2.6) years. Conclusion: The OTTA-SPOT (Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis consortium - Stratified Prognosis of Ovarian Tumours) gene expression signature may improve risk stratification in clinical trials by identifying patients who are least likely to achieve 5-year survival. The identified novel genes associated with the outcome may also yield opportunities for the development of targeted therapeutic approaches.

The magnetostriction constants ( h 1 + h 4 ) and h 2 have been measured in the range 4 K to 700 K in single crystals containing up to 8 wt.% silicon. The higher order constants h 3 , h 4 and h 5 have also been determined at ≈293 K. Data are compared with the predicted temperature dependence for the magnetoelastic coupling coefficient B 1 and the contribution from h 4 is discussed.

We report here two new applications of (00 l ) X-ray scattering intensity data for graphite intercalation compounds, yielding the structure of sandwich intercalates, as in metal chloride compounds, and an estimate of the state index via the l -value at maximum scattering intensity.

The effective masses, carrier scattering times and carrier mobilities have been measured in selected graphite intercalation compounds (GIC) using the Shubnikov-de Haas effect at a series of temperatures between 4 and 50 K. Effective masses are ≲ 0.1 m 0 , scattering times ≈ 10 −13 s and carrier mobilities are on the order of 10 4 cm 2 Vs .

The fecundity, fertility, and longevity of three DDT—resistant populations have been compared with these traits in their corresponding controls. The controls usually showed higher fecundity and fertility, but the resistant flies had a longer life span. These differences are interpreted in terms of the differing selection pressures that have existed in the two kinds of populations. See full-text article at JSTOR

Net sodium transport was measured in isolated skin preparations for five species of anuran amphibians from different habitats. Although previous reports had described differences in the rates of water uptake for anurans from differences habitats, the results of the present study have indicated a lack of significant differences in active sodium flux. The mean rate of sodium flux (all species) was 1.05 microequivalents of sodium per cm2 surface, hour. See full-text article at JSTOR

(1) Following recolonizatiQn in 1911, the number of breeding marsh harriers Circus aeruginosus (L) in Britain was low with between one and five known nests per annum from 1911 to 1944, slowly increasing to fifteen known nests by 1958, but declining to a single pair by 1971. Subsequently there was a rapid increase to twenty-three nests in 1982. There was a highly significant correlation between changes in the number of breeding adults and summering (i.e. non-breeding) birds in the previous year, but no correlation with the number of fledged young 2 or 3 years earlier. (2) Seventy-six per cent of all nesting attempts produced fledged young, with no significant differences between the mean number of young produced from first nests and renests, but a significant trend towards larger fledged brood sizes from nests of polygynous males. The two most important reasons for nest failure were desertions and human egg collectors, but percentage nest failure has shown a downward trend over the last 45 years. (3) Larger clutches produced more fledged young on average, and were less likely to fail, but the expectation of success per egg in successful clutches was higher for smaller clutch sizes. (4) Possible causes of the rapid population decline during the late 1950's and 1960's were examined, including the effects of coypu, habitat loss, and organochlorine pesticides. Only the latter were shown to have had an effect on breeding harriers, with a significant reduction of 10% in eggshell thickness since 1948. (5) The most likely cause of the initial rapid increase in numbers during 1972-82 was recruitment from abroad, particularly from the large population in the Netherlands.

The method of matched asymptotic expansions is used to analyze the asymptotic behavior of the real zeros of, and error incurred by, Pade approximants to e-X. These approximants are of interest because of their application in solving systems of ordinary differential equations arising from mathematical models of physical processes, for example, the heat equation. 1. Introduction. There is considerable interest in properties of Pade approximants to the exponential, not least because of their application in methods for solving those systems of ordinary differential equations which arise in mathematical models of physical processes. In this paper, some asymptotic properties of Pade approximants to e-x are found by using the method of matched asymptotic expansions. First, we analyze the behavior of the real zero of odd-degree denominators along any straight line path through the Pade table; second, a result due to Saff, Varga and Ni (6) concerning the error in the uniform norm on (0, oo) incurred by these approximants is reconsidered.

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data were collected for two samples of ferric chloride intercalated in pyrolytic graphite and a comparison specimen of pristine graphite. The work was done on the 10 m SAXS instrument at the National Center for Small-Angle Scattering Research, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, with the help of NCSASR staff member Dr. J.S. Lin. The experiment was run using Cu Kα radiation and a sample-to-detector distance of 2.2 m, so that the detector scanned an angular range of 3.4–37 mrad, representing momentum transfers, Q , of 0.014–0.15 A −1 . The samples were oriented with their planes normal to the beam axis, so the experiment was sensitive to inhomogeneities within the plane. The scattering patterns obtained were all roughly circular, indicating that the samples were isotropic. The two intercalated samples, C 14 FeCl 3 and C 21 FeCl 3 , had almost identical patterns, scattering much more strongly than the pristine graphite. The graphite displayed scattering maxima at Q values of 0.044, 0.088, 0.11 and 0.13 A −1 . These peaks were present in broadened form in the intercalated samples. Radii of gyration were estimated by extrapolating the slope of the scattering curve to Q = 0, giving 140 (C 14 FeCl 3 ), 145 (C 21 FeCl 3 ) and 214 A (graphite).

The patient, S. A. B., a woman, aged 20, American, a student, two days before the illness reported below, had a mild attack of enterocolitis due apparently to some irritating food she had eaten. Half an ounce of castor oil was prescribed and had the desired effect, and in twenty-four hours recovery seemed complete. At 1 p. m., November 17, one day after recovery from this illness, I was summoned to see the patient, with the message that her former illness had returned. I found her in a state of stupor, answering questions very slowly, or indicating her answer with a grunt. She denied having taken any medicine of any kind since the dose of castor oil. The tongue was extended on request, in about half a minute. very slightly and very slowly. When I endeavored to take the temperature by mouth, she bit off the bulb in a convulsive

isms is of great intrinsic interest and of importance in determining the usefulness of certain characters, qualitative and quantitative, used in taxonomic work. Unfortunately there is seldom a quantitative measure of purported variability of samples; an impression of variability is usually gained because of several extreme individuals that may be present in a population. Studies comparable to those of Kellicott (1907) and Blair (1941, 1943) are rare. Many taxonomic muddles might have been obviated had there been better understanding of intra-specific variation.

The striped phenotype appears to be distributed throughout most of the range of Rana sylvatica in Minnesota. Only Rice County, in the southeastern portion of the state, is known to harbor at least one stripeless breeding population. Stripe frequencies vary from 0% in southeastern Minnesota to 32% in the northwestern part of the state. No significant differences in frequency were found among different age classes or among series of annual samples. No correlation was detected between frequency and habitat. Mean body size of striped and non-striped phenotypes were similar. The striped phenotype may have some selective advantage in coniferous forested areas or during the breeding season in ponds with emergent vegetation, factors which correlate with a westerly increase in stripe frequency.

Forty-two species of cyprinids were studied to determine the amount of intraspecific variation in their pharyngeal tooth formulae. Widely different degrees of variation were found to exist. The percentage of arches, in a given species, bearing variant half-formulae ranged from 0 to 49.2%. The 0,4-4,0 formula was almost invariable whereas most of the species with 0,5-5,0; 2,5-4,2; or 1,4-4,1 formulae exhibited small or intermediate amounts of variation. The 2,4-4,2 condition was the most variable with four species possessing high percentages (5.8% to 49.2%) of deviant halfformulae. Some of the variability in certain formulae was attributed to evolutionary trends tending to decrease the number of minor-row teeth or increase the number of major-row teeth. A functional mechanism influencing the trends was offered. Faulty tooth replacement was also thought to contribute to some of the variation encountered. Because of the variability in certain formulae, it is suggested that pharyngeal arch and tooth characteristics should also be included in species descriptions and keys.

The squamational patterns of the nape, breast and cheek of the Central Johnny darter, Etheostoma n. nigrum, and the scaly Johnny darter, E. n. eulepis, appear to be determined by incompletely dominate genes at one or a few loci. The distribution of two subspecies and their intergrades in Minnesota is complex. Intergrades, E. n. nigrum, and E. n. eulepis occur in samples from the Red, upper Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix drainages. There is little question about the polymorphic niature of the Johnny darters of the Great Lakes re.gion, but several lines of evidence, morphological, ecological and distributional, make it appear undesirable to recognize the scaly Johnny darter, E. n. eulepis, as a subspecies.