cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid concentrations in the intermediate lobe and neural lobe of the posterior pituitary gland as an index of tuberohypophysial dopaminergic neuronal activity.

Abstract Tuberohypophysial dopamine (DA) neurons terminate in the intermediate and neural lobes of the posterior pituitary. The objective of this study was to determine if concentrations of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), a major metabolite of DA in these regions, reflect the activity of tuberhypophysial DA neurons. The concentrations of DOPAC and DA in the intermediate lobe were approximately twice those in the neural lobe, so that the ratios of DOPAC/DA were similar between lobes. The administration of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline produced a rapid decline (by 5 min) of DOPAC concentrations in both the intermediate and neural lobes. The administration of nomifensine, an inhibitor of DA uptake at the nerve terminal, produced a modest 33% decline in DOPAC concentrations in the intermediate lobe, but was without effect in the neural lobe. Activation of tuberohypophysial DA neurons by electrical stimulation of the pituitary stalk increased both the rate of DA synthesis (accumulation of dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) after administration of the decar☐ylase inhibitor NSD 1015) and the concentrations of DOPAC in the intermediate and neural lobes. Administration of the DA antagonist haloperidol increased, and the DA agonist apomorphine decreased both the rate of DOPA accumulation and DOPAC concentrations in the intermediate lobe but not the neural lobe. The results of the present study demonstrate that: (1) elimination of DOPAC from the intermediate lobe and neural lobe is rapid and alterations in DOPAC concentrations reflect dynamic changes in metabolism of DA; (2) DA which is released and recaptured is a minor contributor to DOPAC concentrations; and (3) alterations in the activity of tuberohypophysial DA neurons are accompanied by corresponding changes in DOPAC concentrations. Taken together, these results indicate the DOPAC concentrations in the intermediate lobe and neural lobe of the posterior pituitary are a useful index of tuberohypophysial neuronal activity.
988 INDUCTION OF COMPLEMENT-MEDIATED DESTRUCTION OF HOST CELLS BY BACTERIAL LIPOTEICHOIC ACID

Lipoteichoic acids (LTA) released by gram positive bacteria can spontaneously bind to mammalian cell surfaces. Cells bearing LTA can activate either the classical or alternative pathways of complement (C') in heterologous sera. These observations suggest that the tissue damage which occurs during the course of a bacterial infection might in part be mediated by the host's C' system directed against its own cells bearing surface LTA. A model system was established using erythrocytes (E) presensitized with pneumococcal LTA (LTA-E). When LTA-E from normal rats, normal humans, normal guinea pigs, a C2-deficient human and C4-deficient guinea pigs were each incubated in their autologous sera, there was significant C'-mediated lysis in vitro. The survival of 51Cr-labelled autologous LTA-E in normal rats or cobra venom factor-treated rats (CoVF-rats) (<3% normal C3 levels) was also studied. Only 2.9% of autologous LTA-E remained in the circulation of normal rats at 90 min. In contrast, 31.2% of autologous LTA-E remained in the circulation of CoVF-rats. Intravascular hemolysis accounted for the clearance of LTA-E in the normal rats, while liver sequestration was responsible for clearance in the CoVF-rats. The survival of untreated autologous E in normal or CoVF-rats was normal (93.6% and 96.4% respectively). The results demonstrate that LTA can render cells susceptible to damage by the host's own C' system, establishing this as a possible mechanism of tissue damage in natural infections.
Structural and kinetic mapping of side-chain exposure onto the protein energy landscape

Identification and characterization of structural fluctuations that occur under native conditions is crucial for understanding protein folding and function, but such fluctuations are often rare and transient, making them difficult to study. Native-state hydrogen exchange (NSHX) has been a powerful tool for identifying such rarely populated conformations, but it generally reveals no information about the placement of these species along the folding reaction coordinate or the barriers separating them from the folded state and provides little insight into side-chain packing. To complement such studies, we have performed native-state alkyl-proton exchange, a method analogous to NSHX that monitors cysteine modification rather than backbone amide exchange, to examine the folding landscape of Escherichia coli ribonuclease H, a protein well characterized by hydrogen exchange. We have chosen experimental conditions such that the rate-limiting barrier acts as a kinetic partition: residues that become exposed only upon crossing the unfolding barrier are modified in the EX1 regime (alkylation rates report on the rate of unfolding), while those exposed on the native side of the barrier are modified predominantly in the EX2 regime (alkylation rates report on equilibrium populations). This kinetic partitioning allows for identification and placement of partially unfolded forms along the reaction coordinate. Using this approach we detect previously unidentified, rarely populated conformations residing on the native side of the barrier and identify side chains that are modified only upon crossing the unfolding barrier. Thus, in a single experiment under native conditions, both sides of the rate-limiting barrier are investigated.
MULTIPLE-WAVE PROPAGATION AND CAUSALITY

Abstract The implications of the principle of causality (loosely stated, that the response to an incident signal cannot begin until the signal arrives) are investigated for the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves by multiple-wave media (i.e., media, such as plasmas, which can propagate waves of several different wave numbers K ( ω ) at the same frequency ω). Although many of the results obviously have wider validity, for concreteness the paper takes the medium to be in fact a plasma, while for simplicity the analysis is restricted to the special case of one-dimensional wave propagation along z , with the plasma confined to a finite slab 0 ≦ z ≦ d . The plasma may be lossy, need not be uniform, and may be stable or unstable. The conclusions drawn include: Causality can be preserved even though the transmission amplitude T ( ω ) and reflection amplitude A ( ω ) have singularities in the upper half ω-plane. Poles of A ( ω ), T ( ω ) in Im ω > 0 typically occur with slabs of unstable plasma. In stable plasmas, the existence of a branch point at Im ω > 0 for one K 2 ( ω ) implies there is at least one other K 2 ( ω ) with the same branch point. In stable plasmas it is impossible to excite one such nonsingly-valued K 2 ( ω ) wave without exciting at least one other such wave. With isotropic plasmas the singularities of T ( ω ), A ( ω ) in Im ω > 0 are symmetrically located about the imaginary axis. Despite some complications associated with the limiting behavior of the dispersion equation at infinite | ω |, under ordinary circumstances, with slabs of stable plasma, A ( ω ) and T ( ω ) − 1 each should obey Kramers-Kronig relations. The results are illustrated by reference to two actual plasma dispersion relations—the warm collisionless plasma (stable) and the two-stream plasma (unstable).
Patellofemoral Complications in Symmetrical Total Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract A review of 356 Kinemax (Howmedica, Inc, Rutherford, NJ) cemented posterior cruciate ligament-retaining condylar total knee arthroplasties employing a symmetrical femoral component articulating with a medially offset symmetrical dome patella component was carried out to examine the results and determine the incidence and nature of the patellofemoral complications. Follow-up was from 3 to 8 years, with a mean of 5.1 years. A review of patellofemoral complications in previously reported homogeneous series of symmetrical and asymmetrical implants is presented. Mean postoperative Knee Society scores improved to 91, function scores to 86, and Hospital of Special Surgery scores to 90 yielding 95% good and excellent results. Mean postoperative range of motion was −1.5° extension to 113° flexion. There were five patellofemoral complications (1.4%), including two symptomatic subluxations, two distal pole avulsion fractures, and one lateral facet fracture. There were two reoperations necessary for patellofemoral problems (0.56%), one to correct subluxation and one for excision of the fractured lateral facet. These rates are lower than those previously reported for asymmetrical implants as well as current and phased-out symmetrical designs of total knee arthroplasty in the intermediate term. This review suggests that cemented total knee arthroplasty with symmetrical patellofemoral resurfacing with an offset patella dome and posterior cruciate ligament retention yields low patellofemoral complications and reoperations. The symmetrical femoral component appears to be a satisfactory compromise of “normal” femoral anatomy, which decreases inventory and cost without adversely affecting patellofemoral function and complications.
Lung cancer patient follow-up: motivation of thoracic surgeons.

Study objectives To analyze variation in beliefs that potentially motivate thoracic surgeons in the design of posttreatment surveillance strategies for lung cancer patients and to examine the relationship between motivation and follow-up intensity. Design International survey. Setting Ambulatory care. Participants All 3,700 members of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons were surveyed to measure their follow-up practices during the 5-year period after treatment, physician beliefs, and variation in these beliefs. The relationship between beliefs, as potentially motivating factors, and follow-up intensity was also analyzed. Measurements and results Age, General Thoracic Surgery Club membership, percentage of practice that was noncardiac, South Central United States practice location, and overseas practice location were most frequently related to beliefs that potentially motivate physicians in the design of surveillance strategies. When viewed independently of follow-up practice patterns, thoracic surgeons appear to be motivated by the desire to please patients, avoid malpractice suits, and improve patient quality of life. When viewed in relation to self-reported follow-up, none of these motivating factors were consistently associated with follow-up intensity. Belief in curative treatment of recurrence and enhanced likelihood of immediate palliative treatment leading to improved survival were the factors most frequently associated with variation in follow-up. Although the ability of the logistic and stepwise regression models to predict test use and follow-up intensity was less than optimal for TNM stage I patients, predictive ability was substantially improved for TNM stage II and III patients by including earlier-stage practice patterns as an independent variable. Conclusions Physician characteristics and beliefs predicted a less than expected amount of the variation in self-reported follow-up intensity by TNM stage when modelled without knowledge of follow-up practice for any other TNM stage. Discrepancies between self-reported and actual follow-up may be partially responsible, although lack of surveillance guidelines is more likely. The inclusion of barriers to follow-up may improve future models.
The impact of using multiple modalities on students’ acquisition of fractional knowledge: An international study in embodied mathematics across semiotic cultures

Abstract Principled by the Embodied, Situated, and Distributed Cognition paradigm, the study investigated the impact of using a research-based curriculum that employs multiple modalities on the performance of grade 5 students on 3 subscales: concept of unit, fraction equivalence, and fraction comparison. The sample included five schools randomly selected from a population of 14 schools in Lebanon. Eighteen 5th grade classrooms were randomly assigned to experimental (using multimodal curriculum) and control (using a monomodal curriculum) groups. Three data sources were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data: tests, interviews, and classroom observations. Quantitative data were analyzed using two methods: reliability and MANOVA. Results of the quantitative data show that students taught using the multimodal curriculum outperformed their counterparts who were instructed using a monomodal curriculum on the three aforementioned subscales (at an alpha level = .001). Additionally, fine-grained analysis using the semiotic bundle model revealed different semiotic systems across experimental and control groups. The study findings support the multimodal approach to teaching fractions as it facilitates students’ conceptual understanding.
The Effects of Semen Dosage and Insemination Frequency on the Fertility of Broiler Breeder Hens

Abstract Sexually mature commercial broiler breeder pullets were housed singly in laying cages and artificially inseminated with one of three different levels of undiluted pooled semen (0.1, 0.05 and 0.025 ml.) at either of two different frequencies (once and twice a week) in three different trials. The best fertility was obtained by inseminating twice a week with 0.05 ml. of semen. Inseminating once a week with 0.1 ml. of semen did not provide maximum fertility in the stock used in this study.
Shift Variance In Digital Radiographic Imaging Systems As A Source Of Error In Contrast Detail Measurements

The effects of the total inherent digital imaging system shift variance on the perception of image details were investigated. These effects are particularly important in clinical digital imaging systems when the sampling aperture is comparable to or greater than the resolution dimensions (width of the point spread function) of the input images. The total system shift variance of a commercial digital imaging system, System One, DigiRad, Inc. (Palo Alto, CA), was quantified using a multiple high contrast bar pattern image. The square wave response functions (SWRF) of several nominally randomly selected locations on the displayed images were obtained and linearized by the logit transformation. The Coltman equation was then used to calculate the corresponding modulation transfer functions. Contrast detail (CD) diagrams were obtained using images of Burger-Rose phantoms for different relative positions of the input images with respect to the sampling pixel matrix. The effects of the shift variance on the CD diagrams were found to depend not only on the relative location of the image with respect to the pixel matrix but also on the input image quality. Further studies need to be performed to assess the clinical importance of the inherent shift variance on clinical digital imaging systems.
Molecular dynamics of two-dimensional gases with realistic potentials

Molecular dynamics calculations have mainly used hard-core interactions because of computational simplicity and increased speed. Algorithms for realistic intermolecular potentials have been used in studies of solids and liquids. By combining both techniques, an algorithm which can reasonably study dilute gases with realistic potentials has been achieved. The BoltzmannH-function is calculated for a hard-core and Lennard-Jones gas, and the latter is found to decrease more rapidly to equilibrium.
Third-party applications' data practices on facebook

The objective of this study is to better understand the information exchange created between social networking sites and third-party applications. Toward this end, I have collected data from the 29,020 most popular social applications on Facebook. I have analyzed the general distribution patterns of applications in terms of what types of interfaces they will present to users when users wish to add them to their profile as well as the scope of information that applications can potentially collect from users of Facebook. To further explore the ways in which third-party applications collect users' information, I am currently conducting data analysis to identify permissions that tend to bundle together, permission collecting patterns that exist in different categories of applications, and the information collecting patterns of large developers versus smaller developers.
Intra-arterial mitoxantrone delivery in rabbits: an optical pharmacokinetic study.

BACKGROUND Several human studies have demonstrated the feasibility of intra-arterial delivery of mitoxantrone in systemic malignancies. Computational models predict that an intra-arterial bolus injection of mitoxantrone during transient cerebral hypoperfusion will enhance brain tissue drug deposition in comparison with injections during normal blood flow. OBJECTIVE To assess whether transient reduction in cerebral blood flow would enhance the delivery of mitoxantrone. This is accomplished by obtaining real-time measurements of mitoxantrone concentrations in brain tissues by using a novel optical pharmacokinetics technique, based on reflectance spectroscopy. METHODS The blood-brain barrier of anesthetized rabbits was disrupted by intracarotid injection of mannitol (8 mL, 25% over 40 seconds). Thereafter, animals received 3 mg of mitoxantrone injection during normal perfusion (n = 5) or cerebral hypoperfusion that was induced by contralateral arterial occlusion and systemic hypotension (n = 8). RESULTS Cerebral hypoperfusion significantly decreased the cerebral blood flow, allowing a longer exposure time of the drug. It was determined that therapeutic concentrations of mitoxantrone were achieved in both groups; however, hypoperfusion did not increase the tissue concentrations of mitoxantrone after 20 minutes. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate the effective delivery of mitoxantrone by the intra-arterial route, after blood-brain-barrier disruption, but the predicted benefits of flow reduction for improving intra-arterial deposition of mitoxantrone was not evident.
New studies of post-Pleistocene human skeletal remains from the Rift Valley, Kenya.

Prehistoric human crania from Bromhead's Site, Willey's Kopje, Makalia Burial Site, Nakuru, and other localities in the Eastern Rift Valley of Kenya are reassessed using measurements and a multivariate statistical approach. Materials available for comparison include series of Bushman and Hottentot crania, South and East African Negroes, and Egyptians. Up to 34 cranial measurements taken on these series are utilized to construct three multiple discriminant frameworks, each of which can assign modern individuals to a correct group with considerable accuracy. When the prehistoric crania are classified with the help of these discriminants, results indicate that several of the skulls are best grouped with modern Negroes. This is especially clear in the case of individuals from Bromhead's Site, Willey's Kopje, and Nakuru, and the evidence hardly suggests post-Pleistocene domination of the Rift and surrounding territory by “Mediterranean” Caucasoids, as has been claimed. Recent linguistic and archaeological findings are also reviewed, and these seem to support application of the term Nilotic Negro to the early Rift populations.
Temperature Prediction Model for Horizontal Well with Multiple Fractures in Shale Reservoir

Fracture diagnostics is a key technology for well performance prediction of a horizontal well in a shale reservoir. The combination of multiple fracture diagnostic techniques gives reliable results, and temperature data has potential to provide more reliability on the results. In this work, we show an application of a temperature prediction model for a horizontal well with multiple hydraulic fractures in order to investigate the possibility of evaluating reservoir and hydraulic fracture parameters using temperature data. The model consists of wellbore model and reservoir model. The wellbore model was formulated based on mass, momentum and energy balance. The reservoir flow model was solved by a numerical reservoir simulation, and the reservoir thermal model was formulated by transient energy balance equation considering viscous dissipation heating and temperature variation caused by fluid expansion besides heat conduction and convection. The reservoir flow and reservoir thermal model were coupled with the wellbore model to predict temperature distribution in a horizontal well considering boundary conditions at the contact of reservoir and wellbore. In the reservoir system, primary hydraulic fractures which are transverse to the horizontal well were modeled with thin grid cells explicitly, and the hydraulically-induced fracture network around the horizontal well was modeled as higher permeable zone to unstimulated matrix zone. The reservoir grids between two primary fractures were logarithmically spaced in order to capture transient flow behavior. We applied the model to synthetic examples: horizontal well with identical five fractures and with different five fractures. The results show two fundamental mechanisms: heat conduction between formation and wellbore fluid at non-perforated zone, and wellbore fluid mixing effect at each fracture. The synthetic example with identical fractures shows that fracture locations affect wellbore temperature distribution because of fluid mixing effect between reservoir inflow and wellbore fluid. And also, the synthetic example with different fractures shows that the fracture heterogeneity causes different magnitude of temperature change due to inflow variation per fracture. In addition, the model was applied to synthetic examples without network fracture region in order to find the effects by the network. It reveals that under constant rate condition, network fracture masks large temperature change due to small pressure change at the contact between fracture and formation, and that under constant BHP condition, network fracture augments temperature change with the increase of flow rate in wellbore and inflow rate from reservoir. Sensitivity studies were performed on temperature distribution to identify influential parameters out of the reservoir and hydraulic fracture parameters including reservoir porosity, reservoir permeability, fracture half-length, fracture height, fracture permeability, fracture porosity, fracture network parameters, and fracture interference between multiple…
Approaches for Implementing Persistent Queues within Data-Intensive Scientific Workflows

Many scientific workflow systems are built on dataflow-based models of computation in which data drives the execution of workflow components. An advantage of using dataflow models is their straightforward semantics (which includes support for branching, merging, and looping) and their ability to concurrently execute workflow steps. However, for many data-intensive workflows the dataflow model often requires data buffering. Current systems largely perform buffering through in-memory queues which can lead to buffer overflow and performance degradation as queues reach capacity (e.g., because of paging). We describe an alternative framework that leverages external storage to implement buffers (which we refer to as persistent queues) within data-intensive scientific workflows. Our framework can easily be used with different underlying storage technologies, and we consider and evaluate three distinct approaches: a traditional relational database implementation, a non-relational implementation designed for fast reads and writes, and a specialized approach that can further reduce external buffering overhead. In addition, the use of persistent queues can provide detailed provenance information ``for free'' by capturing the input and output information of each workflow component during workflow execution. Although many systems provide such provenance information, we show how this information can be captured both efficiently and can be used to improve overall workflow performance through persistent queues.
Phylogeny and Divergence Time Estimation in Illicium with Implications for New World Biogeography

Illiciaceae comprise the single genus, Illicium, and approximately 30-40 species distributed in southern and eastern Asia, the southeastern United States, Mexico, and the Greater Antilles. On the basis of perianth morphology, current taxonomic treatments recognize two sections that do not correspond to geographic distributions. A recent phylogenetic study using ITS sequences found strong support for separate Old and New World clades, but did not include all New World species. We elaborate on this previous study by including all known New World species of Illicium, as well as additional Asian species, using ITS and the plastid loci trnL, the trnL-F spacer, and trnG. We estimated divergence times within Illicium using penalized likelihood and multiple fossil calibration points. Our results support separate New and Old World clades, and we re-circumscribe current sectional groupings based on these data. The Illicium crown group appears to have arisen during the Cretaceous, with New World extant taxa diversifying as recently as the late Miocene or early Pliocene. These dates are consistent with recent fossil evidence and molecular estimates for minimum ages of the angiosperms, and for timing of diversification events in other ancient groups, such as Nymphaeales and Chloranthaceae.
High-resolution solid-state 19F-NMR spectroscopy of the sorption and diffusion of fluorine-containing aromatic molecules in polymeric media

High-resolution 19F solid-state NMR spectroscopy was employed to study the sorption properties of hexafluorobenzene (HFB) and 3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl) aniline (TFMA) in polystyrene (PS) and butyl rubber (BR). The NMR spectra indicate that the penetrants undergo dual-mode sorption in the glassy polymer (PS), but are highly mobile in the rubbery polymer (BR). In addition, the NMR method was utilized in the experimental determination of diffusion coefficients for the HFB/PS, TFMA/PS, and HFB/BR systems through desorption studies. The diffusion results for the TFMA/PS case agree very well with those previously obtained via resonance nuclear reaction analysis. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Daily Exposure to Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate Alters Estrous Cyclicity and Accelerates Primordial Follicle Recruitment Potentially Via Dysregulation of the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Signaling Pathway in Adult Mice

Humans are exposed daily to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer found in many consumer, medical, and building products containing polyvinyl chloride. Large doses of DEHP disrupt normal ovarian function; however, the effects of DEHP at environmentally relevant levels, the effects of DEHP on folliculogenesis, and the mechanisms by which DEHP disrupts ovarian function are unclear. The present study tested the hypothesis that relatively low levels of DEHP disrupt estrous cyclicity as well as accelerate primordial follicle recruitment by dysregulating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling. Adult CD-1 mice were orally dosed with DEHP (20 μg/kg/day–750 mg/kg/day) daily for 10 and 30 days. Following dosing, the effects on estrous cyclicity were examined, and follicle numbers were histologically quantified. Further, the ovarian mRNA and protein levels of PI3K signaling factors that are associated with early folliculogenesis were quantified. The data indicate that 10- and 30-day exposure to DEHP prolonged the duration of estrus and accelerated primordial follicle recruitment. Specifically, DEHP exposure decreased the percentage of primordial follicles and increased the percentage of primary follicles counted following 10-day exposure and increased the percentage of primary follicles counted following 30-day exposure. DEHP exposure, at doses that accelerate folliculogenesis, increased the levels of 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1, mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1, and protein kinase B and decreased the levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog, potentially driving PI3K signaling. Collectively, relatively low levels of DEHP disrupt estrous cyclicity and accelerate primordial follicle recruitment potentially via a mechanism involving dysregulation of PI3K signaling.
The CRITTER System -- Automated Critiquing of Digital Circuit Designs

CRITTER is an exploratory prototype design aid, built using Artificial Intelligence ("Expert Systems") technology, to aid in "critiquing" digital circuit designs, encompassing issues of functional correctness, operating speed, timing robustness, and circuit sensitivity to changes in device parameters. Its non-procedural representation for both real-time circuit behavior and circuit specifications has led to a streamlined circuit modeling formalism based on ordinary mathematical function composition. In its interactions with the user it strives to be as concise as possible, concentrating only on findings it judges to be unexpected or unusual. After successful tests with circuits of up to a dozen TTL SSI/MSI packages, CRITTER is being extended for use in an automated VLSI design environment.
Loss of Olfactory Tract Integrity Affects Cortical Metabolism in the Brain and Olfactory Regions in Aging and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Olfactory dysfunction is an early feature of Alzheimer disease. This study used multimodal imaging of PET and 18 F-FDG combined with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate the association of fiber tract integrity in the olfactory tract with cortical glucose metabolism in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and normal controls. We hypothesized that MCI subjects would show loss of olfactory tract integrity and may have altered associations with glucose metabolism. Methods: Subjects diagnosed with amnestic MCI (n 5 12) and normal controls (n 5 23) received standard brain 18F-FDG PET and DTI with 32 gradient directions on a 3-T MR imaging scanner. Fractional anisotropy (FA) maps were generated. Voxelwise correlation analysis of olfactory tract FA values with 18F-FDG PET images was performed. Results: Integrated analysis over all subjects indicated a positive correlation between white matter integrity in the olfactory tract and metabolic activity in olfactory processing structures, including the rostral prefrontal cortex, dorsomedial thalamus, hypothalamus, orbitofrontal cortex, and uncus, and in the superior temporal gyrus, insula, and anterior cingulate cortex. Subjects with MCI, compared with normal controls, showed differential associations of olfactory tract integrity with medial temporal lobe and posterior cortical structures. Conclusion: These findings indicate that impairment of axonal integrity or neuronal loss may be linked to functional metabolic changes and that disease-specific neurodegeneration may affect this relationship. Multimodal imaging using 18 F-FDG PET and DTI may provide better insights into aging
A randomised control study of partial liquid ventilation after airway lavage with exogenous surfactant in a meconium aspiration syndrome animal model

AIMS—To test the hypothesis that lavage with exogenous surfactant before partial liquid ventilation in meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) would improve debris removal, and therefore the effectiveness of partial liquid ventilation. METHODS—12 newborn piglets were randomised into 4 groups, partial liquid ventilation or gas ventilation, with and without surfactant lavage. Physiological and blood gas data were compared between groups by analysis of variance. RESULTS—Arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) was improved in the group treated with surfactant lavage when compared with the group not receiving surfactant. PaO2 in the group receiving surfactant lavage followed by partial liquid ventilation was further improved when compared with the group treated with surfactant lavage followed by gas ventilation and the group receiving partial liquid ventilation alone. CONCLUSION—The effectiveness of partial liquid ventilation in MAS might be enhanced by pretreatment with exogenous surfactant bronchial lavage.
Exploring Species-Based Strategies for Gene Normalization

We introduce a system developed for the BioCreative II.5 community evaluation of information extraction of proteins and protein interactions. The paper focuses primarily on the gene normalization task of recognizing protein mentions in text and mapping them to the appropriate database identifiers based on contextual clues. We outline a "“fuzzy” dictionary lookup approach to protein mention detection that matches regularized text to similarly regularized dictionary entries. We describe several different strategies for gene normalization that focus on species or organism mentions in the text, both globally throughout the document and locally in the immediate vicinity of a protein mention, and present the results of experimentation with a series of system variations that explore the effectiveness of the various normalization strategies, as well as the role of external knowledge sources. While our system was neither the best nor the worst performing system in the evaluation, the gene normalization strategies show promise and the system affords the opportunity to explore some of the variables affecting performance on the BCII.5 tasks.
Bordered Pit Structure and Vessel Wall Surface Properties. Implications for Embolism Repair

The idea that embolized xylem vessels can be refilled while adjacent vessels remain under tension is difficult to accept if the cavitated vessels remain hydraulically connected to vessels under tension. A mechanism by which embolized conduits could be hydraulically isolated from adjacent conduits requires the existence of a non-zero contact angle and a flared opening into the bordered pit chamber such that a convex air-water interface forms at the entrance into the pit chamber. We measured the contact angle and pit chamber geometry for six species. The contact angle measured in the vessel lumen ranged between 42° to 55°, whereas the opening into the pit chamber ranged between 144° and 157°. If the surface properties within the pit chamber are similar to those in the lumen, a convex meniscus will form at the flared opening into the pit chamber. The maximum pressure difference between water in the lumen and gas in the pit chamber that could be stabilized by this interface was calculated to be within the range of 0.07 to 0.30 MPa.
Device characteristics of a 10.1% hydrazine-processed Cu2ZnSn(Se,S)4 solar cell

A power conversion efficiency record of 10.1% was achieved for kesterite absorbers, using a Cu2ZnSn(Se,S)4 thin-film solar cell made by hydrazine-based solution processing. Key device characteristics were compiled, including light/dark J–V, quantum efficiency, temperature dependence of Voc and series resistance, photoluminescence, and capacitance spectroscopy, providing important insight into how the devices compare with high-performance Cu(In,Ga)Se2. The record kesterite device was shown to be primarily limited by interface recombination, minority carrier lifetime, and series resistance. The new level of device performance points to the significant promise of the kesterites as an emerging and commercially interesting thin-film technology. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermally induced nonlinearities in high-speed p-i-n photodetectors

Nonlinearities in the responsivity of high-speed p-i-n photodetectors at high photocurrents can limit the useful dynamic range in photonic systems. This letter describes a nonlinearity in the quantum efficiency in InGaAs photodetectors designed for applications at 1.5 /spl mu/m is due to significant ohmic heating of the intrinsic region. Measured changes in responsivity of about 10% at photocurrents of 12 mA are attributed to a thermal bandgap shift, based on comparisons with temperature dependent measurements and a model of ohmic heating.
Layered image motion with explicit occlusions, temporal consistency, and depth ordering

Layered models are a powerful way of describing natural scenes containing smooth surfaces that may overlap and occlude each other. For image motion estimation, such models have a long history but have not achieved the wide use or accuracy of non-layered methods. We present a new probabilistic model of optical flow in layers that addresses many of the shortcomings of previous approaches. In particular, we define a probabilistic graphical model that explicitly captures: 1) occlusions and disocclusions; 2) depth ordering of the layers; 3) temporal consistency of the layer segmentation. Additionally the optical flow in each layer is modeled by a combination of a parametric model and a smooth deviation based on an MRF with a robust spatial prior; the resulting model allows roughness in layers. Finally, a key contribution is the formulation of the layers using an image-dependent hidden field prior based on recent models for static scene segmentation. The method achieves state-of-the-art results on the Middlebury benchmark and produces meaningful scene segmentations as well as detected occlusion regions.
Computerized Tomography Reveals Variable Aggressiveness of Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder and Bladder Diverticulum

A 58-year-old white male presented with gross hematuria. At hospitalization hematocrit was 26, hemoglobin was 9.6 gm and urinalysis revealed greater than 100 red blood cells per high power field with multiple clots. Cytology identified abnormal cells consistent with transitional cell carcinoma, cellular debris and bacteria on high power field. Serum albumin was low, creatinine was 1.4 mg/dl and blood urea nitrogen was 24 mg/dl. History included a benign bladder papilloma which had been removed by fulguration 6 years earlier. However, the local medical doctor could not provide a pathology report. Cystoscopy revealed a large 3 cm tumor on the right side of the bladder floor with areas of surface necrosis. The entire bladder mucosa was infiltrated by tumor with multiple areas of necrosis and ulcerations. A narrow neck diverticulum was seen on the left side. Biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of infiltrating transitional cell carcinoma with involvement of all layers of the muscularis. Four-phase multidetector computerized tomography demonstrated massive circumferential tumor involvement of all layers of the muscularis and extension along the left lateral bladder wall into the perivesical fat (part A of figure). Tumor neovascularity extended into the central lobe of the prostate (part B of figure). Prominent tumor mass involved the mucosa and submucosa. In contrast, mucosal and submucosal involvement in the diverticulum appeared minimal, with minimal extension into the inner third of the muscularis but none into the peridiverticular fat (part C of figure). After 48 Gy external radiation therapy, radical cystoprostatectomy with resection of components of the membranous urethra was performed with reimplantation of the ureters into an ileal loop. Histopathology of the specimen confirmed unusually thick tumor elements in the mucosa and submucosa of the bladder with areas of necrosis and permeation through all layers of muscularis into the perivesical fat. The findings in this case are in line with the literature, which indicates noninvasive neoplasms confined to the mucosa and submucosa in 44% of diverticula and invasive neoplasms in 56%, the latter often associated with less common bladder cancer subtypes with pT3 disease and risk of progression. 1
Optimization of Pulse Shaping System for Optical Wireless Communication

Specified ultrashort pulse waveforms could be synthesized with optimized high-resolution zero-dispersion pulse shaping system. The system and optimized parameters are analyzed and discussed. It is shown that the optimized pulse shaping system could resolve frequency components of ultrashort pulse and avoid spatial shaping of individual frequency components. The specified shaped pulses are generated through our optimized system, which can potentially improve the performance of optical wireless communication system.
Controlled growth of Si nanowire arrays for device integration.

Silicon nanowires were synthesized, in a controlled manner, for their practical integration into devices. Gold colloids were used for nanowire synthesis by the vapor−liquid−solid growth mechanism. Using SiCl4 as the precursor gas in a chemical vapor deposition system, nanowire arrays were grown vertically aligned with respect to the substrate. By manipulating the colloid deposition on the substrate, highly controlled growth of aligned silicon nanowires was achieved. Nanowire arrays were synthesized with narrow size distributions dictated by the seeding colloids and with average diameters down to 39 nm. The density of wire growth was successfully varied from ∼0.1−1.8 wires/μm2. Patterned deposition of the colloids led to confinement of the vertical nanowire growth to selected regions. In addition, Si nanowires were grown directly into microchannels to demonstrate the flexibility of the deposition technique. By controlling various aspects of nanowire growth, these methods will enable their efficient and eco...
Systematic Review of Tocilizumab for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A New Biologic Agent Targeting the Interleukin-6 Receptor

Abstract Background Tocilizumab (TCZ), a humanized anti–interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, represents a new treatment strategy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is currently approved in the United States for RA patients who have failed to improve with at least one anti–tumor necrosis factor therapy. Objective The goal of this study was to summarize the efficacy and safety profile of TCZ. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted to identify English-language articles within PubMed and the Cochrane Library from January 1989 to August 2011 reporting results from Phase III TCZ double-blind, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), noncontrolled clinical trials, and open-label extensions with a duration ≥6 months. Study outcomes had to include at least one of the following: American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20, 50, or 70 response rates; tender/swollen joint count; Health Assessment Questionnaire–Disability Index; radiographic outcomes and drug persistence. Phase II RCTs were included only if they contained relevant information not available in Phase III RCTs. Relevant studies were selected to evaluate TCZ's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Results Ten published clinical trials (7 Phase III, 3 Phase II) for TCZ were retrieved (7833 articles initially identified) from PubMed and 31 from the Cochrane library. Compared with methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy, TCZ 8 mg/kg IV monotherapy had higher rates of ACR20 ( P P = 0.002), and ACR70 ( P P P Conclusion The short-term efficacy and safety profile of TCZ is promising. Additional long-term safety data are needed to better characterize the risk–benefit profile of this agent.
Scholarship of Practice: Scholars, Practitioners, and Communities Working Together to Promote Participation and Health. Introduction.

The last two decades have been marked by a new vision of how researchers and practitioners work together in order to better address the health and social issues that societies are confronting today...
Evaluation of the nanomechanical properties of vanadium and native oxide vanadium thin films prepared by RF magnetron sputtering

Abstract Polycrystalline vanadium thin films of 50, 75, and 100 nm thickness were deposited by magnetron sputtering of a vanadium metal target of 2 inch diameter with 99.9% purity on native oxide covered Si substrates. One set of the fabricated samples were kept in moisture free environment and the other set was exposed to ambient air at room temperature for a long period of time that resulted in formation of native oxide prior to testing. The crystal structure and phase purity of the vanadium and the oxidized vanadium thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD results yield a preferential (1 1 0), and (2 0 0) orientation of the polycrystalline V films and (0 0 4) vanadium oxide (V3O7). The vanadium films thickness were verified using field emission scanning electron microscopy and the films surface morphologies were inspected using atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM images reveal surface roughness was observed to increase with increasing film thickness and also subsequent to oxidation at room temperature. The nanomechanical properties were measured by nanoindentation to evaluate the modulus and hardness of the vanadium and the oxidized vanadium thin films. The elastic modulus of the vanadium and the oxidized vanadium films was estimated as 150 GPa at 30% film thickness and the elastic modulus of the bulk vanadium target is estimated as 135 GPa. The measured hardness of the vanadium films at 30% film thickness varies between 9 and 14 GPa for the 100 and 50 nm films, respectively, exhibiting size effects, where the hardness increases as the film thickness decreases. The hardness of the oxidized films depicted less variation and is reported as ∼10 GPa at 30% film thickness for the three oxides. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging depicted a gradual progression of pile up as the film thickness increased from 75 to 100 nm. It is noticed that as the film thickness increases the films experience softening effect due to grain coarsening and the hardness values depict the hardness of the Si substrate at deep indents.
Assessing the Structure of Efficacy and Outcome Expectancies in the Decision to Disclose Secrets: A Comparison of Contrasting Theories

This investigation examined the process by which people decide to disclose secrets. Two competing models tested the order that people consider outcome expectancies and efficacy assessments when making disclosure decisions. Participants (N = 349) answered questions about a currently held secret and related cognitions. Two months later, people indicated whether they disclosed the secret by that time. Communication efficacy and outcome expectancies predicted disclosure in both models, but coping efficacy only predicted disclosure when modeled exogenously to outcome expectancies. Model comparisons provided moderate support for the latter model as more preferable, suggesting that outcome expectancies may mediate the effect of communication and coping efficacy on the decision to disclose secrets.
Comparison Between Conventional Salvage Therapy and High-Dose Therapy With Autografting for Recurrent or Refractory Hodgkin's Disease

Sixty patients with Hodgkin's disease, refractory to or at first recurrence after chemotherapy, received cytoreductive therapy followed by high-dose etoposide, cyclophosphamide and either total body irradiation or carmustine and autografting (median follow-up, 3.6 years; range, 1.1 to 7.5 years). A matched conventional salvage group of 103 patients was selected from patients treated at Stanford University Medical Center between January 1976 and January 1989 (median follow-up, 10.3 years; range, 3.0 to 15.7 years). Overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), and freedom from progression (FFP) at 4 years follow-up favored patients who received high-dose therapy compared with conventional salvage treatment (OS: 54% v 47%, P = .25; EFS: 53% v 27%, P < .01; FFP: 62% v 32%, P < .01). In Cox regression analysis, response to cytoreductive or salvage therapy and B symptoms at relapse were the most important predictors of OS. The use of high-dose therapy at relapse, a longer duration of remission, and favorable response to cytoreductive or salvage therapy were most predictive of superior FFP and EFS. These data from a single institution comparing conventional and high-dose therapy in matched patients demonstrate an advantage for high-dose therapy and autografting in the sustained control of Hodgkin's disease. As with primary therapy, it is difficult to demonstrate a statistically significant survival advantage, despite an apparently superior cure rate. However, patients failing induction therapy or relapsing within 1 year benefited significantly from high-dose therapy by all outcome measures (OS, EFS, FFP). As the transplant-related mortality rates decline in Hodgkin's disease, it is predicted that cure rates and late effects will become ultimate determinants of the success of high-dose therapy and autografting.