cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder: Incidence, Presentation, and Response to Treatment in Lung Transplant Recipients

Introduction Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a relatively infrequent but devastating complication that occurs after solid-organ transplantation. Although the optimal treatment for this condition is unknown, rituximab, a murine/human chimeric monoclonal antibody, has shown promise in the treatment of PTLD. In this report, we define the incidence, clinical features at presentation, and response to treatment of all cases of PTLD observed at our institution over a 10-year period, including four patients who received treatment with rituximab. Methods A review of all patients who underwent lung or heart-lung transplant at Duke University from 1992 to 2002 was performed (n = 400), and demographic and clinical outcome data were extracted. Results PTLD was observed in 10 of 400 patients (2.5%). Patients who acquired PTLD were predominately > 55 years old (8 of 10 patients) and with a native disease of COPD (7 of 10 patients). Diagnosis of PTLD was made a median of 343 days after transplant. The type of transplant and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status prior to transplant did not appear to influence the risk for PTLD. Patients presented with thoracic organ involvement (7 of 10 patients), extrapulmonary disease (2 of 10 patients), or both (1 of 10 patients). Histologic subtypes included polymorphic B cell (n = 4), monomorphic B cell (n = 3), B cell without further classification (n = 2), and anaplastic T cell (n = 1). Only one patient responded to reduced immunosuppression alone. Patients treated with surgery or radiation (n = 2) or rituximab (n = 4) had favorable responses to therapy. Both patients treated with chemotherapy died related to complications of treatment and PTLD. Conclusions Presentation and histologic appearance of PTLD varies considerably among lung transplant recipients. PTLD was more frequent among older patients with COPD, regardless of pretransplant EBV serology. Rituximab appears effective as a first-line therapy for PTLD, but additional studies are needed in order to define its efficacy and side effect profile in this population of patients.
CO2 and argon laser vascular welding: acute histologic and thermodynamic comparison

CO2 and argon lasers have been used successfully for vascular welding in both experimental and clinical settings. This study compared the thermodynamics during CO2 and argon laser welding of 1-cm longitudinal arteriotomies in a canine model. Continuous recordings using an AGA 782 digital thermographic system with spatial and thermal resolution of ±0.2 mm and ±0.2°C, respectively, were analyzed. A HGM argon laser using a 300-μm optic fiber held at 1 cm from the vessel edges (spot diameter = 2.8 mm) with concomitant room temperature saline irrigation (1 drop/sec) was used for argon welds. Total exposure time was 150 sec/cm. CO2 welds were performed with a Sharplan CO2 laser (spot diameter = 0.22 mm) with no irrigation for total exposure time of 10 sec/cm. Thermodynamic results and laser parameters are summarized as follows: Argon–n = 20; power = 500 mW; energy fluence = 1,400 J/cm2; Tmax = 48.8°C; T mean ± S.D. = 45.1 ± 2.7°C; CO2–n = 20; power = 150 mW; energy fluence = 3,000 J/cm2; Tmax 84.0°C; T mean ± S.D. = 60.7 ± 9.8°C. There was a significant difference (P < .05) in thermal measurements between successful CO2 and argon vascular welds. Temperature rise during the argon welds was limited by saline irrigation. In contrast, during CO2 laser welding, the temperature rose quickly to its maximum and was maintained at a relatively high level as the laser progressed (0.1 cm/sec) along the anastomosis. Histologic examination revealed charring at the CO2 weld site but absence of thermal damage at the argon laser weld. These thermodynamic differences may account for the different welding mechanisms currently described.
Treatment considerations for HIV-infected individuals with severe mental illness.

There has been a general recognition of a syndemic that includes HIV/AIDS and serve mental illnesses including schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and others. The pathophysiology and direction of effects between severe mental illness and HIV infection is less clear however, and relatively little work has been done on prevention and treatment for people with these complex, co-occurring conditions. Here we present the most recent work that has been published on HIV and mental illness. Further, we describe the need for better treatments for “triply diagnosed persons”; those with HIV, mental illness, and substance abuse and dependence. Finally, we describe the potential drug-drug interactions between psychotropic medications and anti-retrovirals, and the need for better treatment guidelines in this area. We describe one example of an individually tailored intervention for persons with serious mental illness and HIV (PATH+) that shows that integrated community-based treatments using advanced practice nurses (APNs) as health navigators can be successful in improving health-related quality of life and reducing the burden of disease in these persons.
High Q-factor photonic crystal cavities on transparent polymers

High Q-factor photonic crystal cavities are designed on transparent PVK polymers with relatively low refractive index. The inplane and total Q-factor of the devices are analyzed. Experimental implementation is discussed.
Cylindrical decomposition for systems transcendental in the first variable

We present a generalization of the Cylindrical Algebraic Decomposition (CAD) algorithm to systems of equations and inequalities in functions of the form p(x,f"1(x),...,f"m(x),y"1,...,y"n), where [email protected]?Q[x,t"1,...,t"m,y"1,...,y"n] and f"1(x),...,f"m(x) are real univariate functions such that there exists a real root isolation algorithm for functions from the algebra Q[x,f"1(x),...,f"m(x)]. In particular, the algorithm applies when f"1(x),...,f"m(x) are real exp-log functions or tame elementary functions.
A Dynamic View of Neighborhoods: The Reciprocal Relationship between Crime and Neighborhood Structural Characteristics

Prior research frequently observes a positive cross-sectional relationship between various neighborhood structural characteristics and crime rates, and attributes the causal explanation entirely to these structural characteristics. We question this assumption theoretically, proposing a household-level model showing that neighborhood crime might also change these structural characteristics. We test these hypotheses using data on census tracts in 13 cities over a ten-year period, and our cross-lagged models generally find that, if anything, crime is the stronger causal force in these possible relationships. Neighborhoods with more crime tend to experience increasing levels of residential instability, more concentrated disadvantage, a diminishing retail environment, and more African Americans ten years later. Although we find that neighborhoods with more concentrated disadvantage experience increases in violent and property crime, there is no evidence that residential instability or the presence of African Americans increases crime rates ten years later.
Nicardipine Reverses Vasoactivity Associated with University of Wisconsin Solution in the Rat Peripheral Circulation

Abstract Background The rapid uniform delivery of University of Wisconsin solution (UW) to the microcirculation may be compromised by its vasoactivity. Methods In 2 different rodent models, we tested whether UW-mediated vasoconstriction could be reversed with nicardipine. Results In the perfused, splanchnic circulation, intravascular control solutions (lactated Ringers [LR], Hextend [HEX], histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate [HTK]) or UW (± nicardipine) evoked pressure changes in 3 protocols (series 1; n = 35). In the cremaster muscle, topical control solutions or UW (± nicardipine) evoked vascular responses measured by video microscopy in 4 protocols (series 2; n = 47). In series 1A, 37°C UW increased perfusion pressure, but there was no change caused by LR, HEX, or HTK. In series 1B, 4°C UW caused a similar, albeit transient, increase. In series 1C, nicardipine reversed 37°C UW-mediated vasoconstriction in a dose-related manner. In series 2A, UW caused a 30%–59% constriction that varied with arteriolar branching order. In series 2B, the recovery from UW-induced vasoconstriction varied with duration of exposure, but nicardipine fully reversed residual vasoconstriction. In series 2C, cold and warm UW were equipotent, near maximal, vasoconstrictors. In series 2D, UW potentiated no-reflow. Conclusion UW causes a potent temperature-independent vasoconstriction by a calcium-mediated mechanism and this effect can be mitigated with nicardipine.
Bardet-Biedl syndrome is linked to DNA markers on chromosome 11q and is genetically heterogeneous.

Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS) is an uncommon autosomal recessive condition characterized by mental retardation, post–axial polydactylia, obesity and pigmentary retinopathy. We performed linkage analysis in 31 multiplex BBS families and report significant linkage with two markers on chromosome 11 q, PYGM and AFM164zf12 (D11S913). Homogeneity testing demonstrates genetic heterogeneity within our set of families. Our data imply that a major gene, BBS1, is located on chromosome 11q, although mutations at other loci may also be associated with this phenotype.
Photoreceptor phagocytosis selectively activates PPARgamma expression in retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Phagocytosis of tips of rod outer segments (ROS) by retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is vitally important for maintaining structural and functional integrity of the retina. We previously reported that receptor-mediated specific phagocytosis of ROS induces expression of early response genes coding for transcription factors. Here we study the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) -alpha, -delta (beta) and -gamma during ROS phagocytosis of rat RPE cells in primary cell culture, using competitive quantitative RT-PCR. During phagocytosis of ROS (but not of latex particles) by RPE cells, RT-PCR revealed a transient increase in PPARgamma mRNA expression, that peaked at 4-6 hr. We sequenced and described two alternatively spliced variants of rat PPARgamma: rPPARgamma1a and rPPARgamma1b. Both of these, along with the recently described rPPARgamma2 were induced by ROS phagocytosis. PPARalpha and PPARdelta mRNA expression was also detected in RPE cells, but the level of expression did not change during ROS phagocytosis. All-trans-retinoic acid and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) selectively potentiated both basal and ROS-phagocytosis-induced PPARgamma expression. All-trans-retinoic acid had the opposite inhibitory effect on PPARalpha and PPARdelta expression. Cycloheximide had a dual action on PPARgamma expression in RPE cells: it enhanced expression under basal conditions but repressed expression induced by ROS phagocytosis. It also stimulated expression of PPARalpha but had no effect on PPARdelta. Selective activation of PPARgamma may play an important role in regulating the expression of target genes that are involved in lipid and fatty acid metabolism in the photoreceptor renewal process.
A transgenic Drosophila model demonstrates that the Helicobacter pylori CagA protein functions as a eukaryotic Gab adaptor.

Infection with the human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori is associated with a spectrum of diseases including gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastric adenocarcinoma, and gastric mucosa–associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. The cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) protein of H. pylori, which is translocated into host cells via a type IV secretion system, is a major risk factor for disease development. Experiments in gastric tissue culture cells have shown that once translocated, CagA activates the phosphatase SHP-2, which is a component of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) pathways whose over-activation is associated with cancer formation. Based on CagA's ability to activate SHP-2, it has been proposed that CagA functions as a prokaryotic mimic of the eukaryotic Grb2-associated binder (Gab) adaptor protein, which normally activates SHP-2. We have developed a transgenic Drosophila model to test this hypothesis by investigating whether CagA can function in a well-characterized Gab-dependent process: the specification of photoreceptors cells in the Drosophila eye. We demonstrate that CagA expression is sufficient to rescue photoreceptor development in the absence of the Drosophila Gab homologue, Daughter of Sevenless (DOS). Furthermore, CagA's ability to promote photoreceptor development requires the SHP-2 phosphatase Corkscrew (CSW). These results provide the first demonstration that CagA functions as a Gab protein within the tissue of an organism and provide insight into CagA's oncogenic potential. Since many translocated bacterial proteins target highly conserved eukaryotic cellular processes, such as the RTK signaling pathway, the transgenic Drosophila model should be of general use for testing the in vivo function of bacterial effector proteins and for identifying the host genes through which they function.
Levamisole induced enhancement of polymorphonuclear leukocyte migration in patients with periodontitis

The effect of the immunostimulatory drug levamisole on the stimulated migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) from patients with periodontitis and from normal subjects was assessed. Because of previous conflicting reports on the effect of this drug on PMN chemotaxis, the conditions of the assay were first investigated using zymosan-activated serum (ZAS) as a chemoattractant. When PMNs were suspended in a medium containing 2% bovine serum albumin and stimulated with 10% ZAS, no enhancement was observed. In contrast, levamisole had a substantial enhancing effect when the PMNs were suspended in protein-free medium and stimulated with a 25% concentration of ZAS. Using conditions between these extremes, the effect of levamisole on the migration of PMNs from live patients with periodontitis and from a sibling of one of the above who had severe recurrent otitis media was studied. PMN migration was depressed in all of the patients; the mean value was 23.3±4.9% of normal, range 2.0–53.0%. Adding levamisole enhanced cell migration in all cases; the average enhancement for the group was 297.5±46.8% p < 0.005), range 56.0–769.0%. Enhancement was maximal at drug concentrations between 0.1 and 1 mM. Levarnisole also enhanced the migration of PMNs from some but not all normal subjects, but to a lesser degree; mean enhancement was 58.4±23.8%, range 0–136.0%. Thus, under the assay conditions used, levamisole enhanced and in part corrected the depressed migratory responsiveness of PMNs from these patients with periodontitis.
Decisional capacity and medication adherence among youth with HIV

This exploratory study examined the degree to which decisional capacity (DC) is associated with measures of self-reported medication adherence. We hypothesized that youth with higher levels of DC would report greater levels of antiretroviral medication adherence. Seventy-two (72) youth with HIV aged 13–24 participated in this study. Data collection included administration of the MacArthur Competence Tool for Treatment and measures of adherence (i.e., seven-day self-report interview, visual analog scale, and biological indicators). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, intercorrelations, and multiple and Poisson regression analyses. Youth with HIV who exhibited greater understanding of their disease were more likely to report fewer missed doses in the last seven days. Findings build upon literature in the areas of DC and health literacy and highlight the potential utility of enhancing HIV disease understanding among youth with HIV.
Effects of noise and speech intelligibility on listener comprehension and processing time of Korean-accented English.

Purpose This study evaluated the effects of noise and speech intelligibility on the processing of speech produced from native English; high-intelligibility, Korean-accented English; and moderate-intelligibility, Korean-accented English speakers. Method Both listener comprehension, determined by accuracy judgment on true/false sentences, and processing time, estimated from response latency, were assessed under the following 3 conditions: quiet, +10 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and +5 dB SNR. Fifty-four monolingual, English-speaking adults served as the listeners for this study. Results While noise did not affect the time it took to process foreign-accented speech, it decreased the comprehension of the foreign-accented speech more so than the native speech. Decreasing English intelligibility also resulted in reduced listener comprehension. In addition, the processing time needed to comprehend the intended message depended on the intelligibility of the foreign-accented speaker. Listener comprehension nega...
The roles of emotional reactivity and tolerance in generalized, social, and health anxiety: a multimethod exploration

Emotion regulation difficulties have been implicated in the maintenance of many anxiety disorders. However, existing research has relied mostly on self-report measures of emotion regulation or one type of mood induction. The present study examined the relationships between anxiety symptoms and emotional reactivity and tolerance using multiple assessment methodologies. Participants (N=122) completed measures of generalized, social, and health anxiety symptoms and reported tolerance of and reactivity to negative emotions (sadness, fear, anger, disgust) elicited by 4 film clips. Participants also completed a mirror-tracing persistence task, a behavioral measure of distress tolerance. Social anxiety symptoms predicted unique variance in tolerance of film-elicited emotions, whereas generalized anxiety symptoms predicted unique variance in total peak reactivity to film-elicited emotions. Health anxiety was not related to tolerance or peak reactivity, but it was predictive of greater anxiety following the mirror-tracing task. The results of this study suggest heightened emotional reactivity is a salient feature of generalized anxiety symptoms, whereas emotional tolerance is more strongly related to social anxiety symptoms. The unique association between health anxiety and anxious response to the distress tolerance task represents a novel finding that warrants further investigation.
Laboratory virulence and orchard efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes against the lesser peachtree borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae).

ABSTRACT The lesser peachtree borer, Synanthedon pictipes (Grote & Robinson) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), is indigenous to eastern North America. It is a pest of commercially grown Prunus spp., especially to southeastern peach orchards where earlier regulatory changes affected pesticide use on peach leading to increased S. pictipes damage. Pest management practices are now having a positive effect toward control of this pest, but cost-competitive biological control solutions that promote environmental stewardship are needed. Here, we tested four Steinernema species and five Heterorhabditis species of entomopathogenic nematodes against larval S. pictipes. Included were four strains of S. carpocapsae (All, DD136, Sal, and Hybrid2) and three strains of S. riobrave (3–8b, 7–12, and 355). Larvae treated with any strain of S. carpocapsae always resulted in 50% when treated with any other Steinernema or Heterorhabditis spp. These differences were always significant ...
Two-dimensional echo Doppler study of congenital disorders of the mitral valve

To define the use of two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and Doppler methods for diagnosis of forms of congenital mitral stenosis, we studied 16 children, age range 2 months to 13 years, with congenital deformities of the mitral valve documented at cardiac catheterization. Thirteen had additional congenital heart defects, most commonly aortic stenosis or aortic coarctation. In eight patients features of mitral valve anatomy were observed and described during cardiac surgery and in one child the anatomy was verified by postmortem examination. 2DE studies allowed anatomic subclassification of 10 valves which had asymmetric or single dominant papillary muscles (parachute) and six which had arcade mitral valve attached by short chords to multiple diminutive papillary muscle heads. All patients' echoes exhibited shortened and thickened mitral chordae and doming of the mitral leaflets during diastole, and seven children had restricted mitral orifices imaged on the short-axis imaging plane. All seven of the patients studied by Doppler echocardiography had increased maximal transmitral inflow velocity (range 111 to 260 cm/sec) greater than the 95% confidence limits for mitral flow velocities in 34 normal children who served as the control group. Our study suggests that 2DE studies, especially when combined with Doppler interrogation, are sensitive for defining forms of congenital mitral stenosis.
Online access will reduce author/title catalog search failure

An analysis of library use studies previously published by this author (Kilgour 1989) revealed that of every hundred user requests for a book, seven are not satisfied because the library has not acquired the book, eleven because there is a defect in the catalog or error in its use (3.45 to deficiency and 7.55 to user error), and twenty‐three because the book is not on the shelf. This paper demonstrates types of online catalog access that can reduce the failures caused by card catalog flaws or by user search errors by half.
City relative price convergence in the USA with structural break(s)

As in international tests of purchasing power parity, new more powerful univariate unit root tests have been successful in rejecting a unit root process in US city relative prices over the period 1918–1997. However, convergence rates calculated with these tests are at odds with theories of price convergence. This article addresses structural breaks that may be misinterpreted as nonstationary permanent stochastic process. Using unit root tests with structural breaks, we are able to reject a unit root process in the majority of US city relative prices over the entire sample period. Moreover, convergence rates fall to those more in line with theory.
Behavior of steps on Si(001) as a function of vicinality

The surface step morphology of the Si(001) surface as a function of miscut angle between 0.3 o and 5.25 o has been investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy. On samples with large average terrace widths, the kinks in the steps behave independently and the intrinsic step energy can be determined from the kink-length distribution which follows simple Boltzmann statistics. For wide terraces the large-scale meandering of the steps is governed by the long-range strain fields caused by the anisotropic surface stress tensor. Here the step separation distributions can be described by a Boltzmann distribution of segments of the step moving in this strain potential
Polylogarithmic Additive Inapproximability of the Radio Broadcast Problem

The input for the radio broadcast problem is an undirected $n$-vertex graph $G$ and a source node $s$. The goal is to send a message from $s$ to the rest of the vertices in the minimum number of rounds. In a round, a vertex receives the message only if exactly one of its neighbors transmits. The radio broadcast problem admits an $O(\log^2 n)$ approximation [CW-87,KP-04]. [I. Chlamtac and O. Weinstein, in Proceedings of the IEEE INFOCOM, 1987, pp. 874-881; D. Kowalski and A. Pelc, in APPROX-RANDOM, Lecture Notes in Comput. Sci. 3122, Springer, Berlin, 2004, pp. 171-182]. In this paper we consider the additive approximation ratio of the problem. We prove that there exists a constant $c$ so that the problem cannot be approximated within an additive term of $c\log^2 n$, unless $NP\subseteq BTIME(n^{O(\log\log n)})$.
Retinal crowding alters the morphology of alpha ganglion cells

It has been hypothesized that the dendritic field size of individual retinal ganglion cells is regulated early in development by interactions among neighboring cells (Wassle and Reiman, Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B. 200:441-461, 1978). An opportunity to test this hypothesis is provided by the consequences of prenatal enucleation that results in an increased density of ganglion cells in the remaining retina (Chalupa et al., Neuroscience 12:1139-1146, 1984). In the present study we compared dendritic field diameters of alpha ganglion cells in normal retinas to those of adult cats that were monocularly enucleated before birth (on embryonic days 42 and 51) and 6 days after birth. In each animal ganglion cells were labeled by central injections of horseradish peroxidase. The retinas were incubated according to a modified Hanker-Yates procedure and whole-mounted. All cells were sampled from the temporal retina along a corridor established by a line drawn through the optic disk and the area centralis. Alpha cells were differentiated into ON and OFF subtypes on the basis of their level of stratification in the inner plexiform layer (Peichl and Wassle, Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B. 212:139-156, 1981). Dendritic field and soma diameters were determined from complete cell drawings by calculating the mean of the two longest orthogonal diameters. Our main findings are: Early monocular enucleation does not disrupt the mosaics of ON and OFF alpha ganglion cells in the remaining retina of adult animals. Within the retinal corridor sampled, the density of alpha cells was substantially greater than normal in the remaining retina of the prenatal enucleates at all eccentricities except the far periphery. Except at the far periphery, the dendritic field diameters of the prenatally enucleated animals were significantly smaller than normal when compared at equivalent eccentricities. However, when compared at equivalent cell densities, dendritic field dimensions in the prenatally enucleated and normal animals were found to be similar. In the prenatal enucleates the somas of these neurons were also significantly smaller than normal. If the monocular enucleation was postnatal, however, the density and the dendritic field diameters of alpha cells did not differ appreciably from normal. These results indicate that the morphology of retinal ganglion cells can be influenced by increasing the density of developing ganglion cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
CALCULATION OF THE LIFETIME OF A METASTABLE SYSTEM.

We have compared, in the context of a soluble model, two approximate methods of calculating the lifetime of a metastable state with the "exact" method. The exact method involves the usual relation $T=2\ensuremath{\hbar}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ between the lifetime $T$ of a metastable state and the displacement $\frac{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}{2}$ of the resonance pole of the $S$ matrix from the real energy axis. This result is contrasted with those obtained by using Fermi's "golden rule" and F. T. Smith's time-delay method. While the "golden rule" method involves a first-order determination of the transition amplitude connecting the approximate bound state to the final approximate continuum state, Smith's method is nonperturbative and utilizes the $S$ matrix directly.
Safety and efficacy of oral fluorescein angiography in detecting macular edema in comparison with spectral domain optical coherence tomography

Purpose:To evaluate the safety of oral fluorescein angiography (FA) and to compare its efficacy in detection of macular edema (ME) with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).Methods:Results of imaging studies for 1,928 eyes of 1,019 patients who had simultaneously undergone both oral
A model-based evaluation of tropical climate in Pangaea during the late Palaeozoic icehouse

Abstract The late Palaeozoic ice age (LPIA) is the Earth's penultimate “icehouse climate.” Geological proxies for tropical Pangaean climate during the LPIA are significantly modulated on 100–400 kyr and sub-100 kyr scales. In addition, some geological proxies suggest that equatorial continental areas may have been colder and more arid during LPIA glacial intervals than during late Cenozoic glacial intervals. Furthermore, the relationship between polar and tropical climate variability remains controversial. The climate dynamics underlying these phenomena are only partly understood. Nevertheless, past modeling of LPIA climate has suggested that precipitation near the Equator was modulated by monsoonal circulation that itself was modulated by orbital variability. Here, the Earth's climate during Asselian–Sakmarian time (299–284 Ma) was simulated with the Community Climate System Model version 3 (CCSM3). These simulations address model climate sensitivity to direct and indirect effects of glaciation as well as variability in the Earth's orbit. The results of these simulations suggest that sea level and orbitally forced monsoon variability were the primary controls on tropical precipitation when ice sheets were confined to polar latitudes. Any impact of orbital forcing on glaciation therefore could have led to aliasing between glacial and monsoonal effects in particular regions, perhaps explaining contrasting geologically-based interpretations of how tropical climate responded to glaciation. Glaciation of the Central Pangaean Mountains would have led to widespread cold and aridity in equatorial Pangaea, but forming these glaciers would have required an unknown additional climate forcing with an unknown impact on tropical precipitation.
The role of the substantia nigra in posture control

Disorders implicating the basal ganglia are often characterized by postural deficits, but little is known about the role of the basal ganglia in posture control. Using wireless multi-electrode recording, we measured single unit activity from GABAergic and dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra as unrestrained mice stood on an elevated platform while introducing continuous postural disturbances in the roll plane. We found two major types of neurons - those activated by tilt to the left side of the body and suppressed by tilt to the right side, and others activated by tilt to the right side and suppressed by tilt to the left side. Contrary to the prevailing view that the basal ganglia output from the substantia nigra pars reticulata either inhibits or disinhibits downstream structures in an all or none fashion, we showed that it continuously sends anti-phase signals to their downstream targets. We also demonstrated for the first time that nigrostriatal dopaminergic transmission is modulated by postural disturbances.
Determination of Lesion Size as Function of HIFU Sonication Time Using MRI Monitored HIFU Ablations

The purpose of this study is to determine the dependence of the size of the thermal lesion on sonication time in an ex-vivo porcine liver sample during simulated High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) tissue ablation. MRI guided HIFU ablations were performed on a freshly excised porcine liver sample at 70 W acoustic power. The size of the lesion (ablated zone) was measured at sonication times, 20 s, 30 s and 40 s. Numerical calculations were performed to validate the experimental lesion size. Also, a histology study of the ablated liver sample was performed to confirm cell necrosis within the ablated zones. It was found that the HIFU induced lesion size is strongly dependant on sonication time and lesion size almost doubles (increases from 0.368 to 0.715 cm 2 ) as sonication time increases from 20s to 40s. The area of lesions, determined experimentally, agreed within 5% with results of numerical calculations.
MSSG: A Framework for Massive-Scale Semantic Graphs

This paper presents a middleware framework for storing, accessing and analyzing massive-scale semantic graphs. The framework, MSSG, targets scale-free semantic graphs with O(1012) (trillion) vertices and edges. Here, we present the overall architectural design of the framework, as well as a prototype implementation for cluster architectures. The sheer size of these massive-scale semantic graphs prohibits storing the entire graph in memory even on medium- to large-scale parallel architectures. We therefore propose a new graph database, grDB, for the efficient storage and retrieval of large scale-free semantic graphs on secondary storage. This new database supports the efficient and scalable execution of parallel out-of-core graph algorithms which are essential for analyzing semantic graphs of massive size. We have also developed a parallel out-of-core breadth-first search algorithm for performance study. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first of such algorithms reported in the literature. Experimental evaluations on large real-world semantic graphs show that the MSSG framework scales well, and grDB outperforms widely used open-source out-of-core databases, such as BerkeleyDB and MySQL, in the storage and retrieval of scale-free graphs.
Potassium changes associated with blood transfusion in pediatric patients.

Storing packed red blood cells (pRBCs) increases the potassium concentration. This effect is characterized in citrate phosphate dextrose/citrate phosphate dextrose adenine units but not published for Adsol (AS-5) units. The change in whole-blood potassium concentration in pediatric patients during routine transfusion is also poorly characterized. In this study, pediatric patients undergoing transfusion had pre- and posttransfusion whole-blood potassium measurements. The pRBC unit transfused and the unit’s segment were sampled, with potassium concentration measured. In addition, potassium concentration in AS-5 units was measured over 42 days of storage. Unit extracellular potassium increased in AS-5 units after day 7 at 0.83 mmol/L/d. The mean change in patient potassium concentration was 0.08 mmol/L (range, −0.5 to 0.5 mmol/L). No correlation with unit age or unit potassium concentration was identified with change in patient whole-blood potassium concentration. The lack of clinical effect on patient potassium does not support the use of “fresh” pRBC units with routine pediatric transfusion.
Metastatic adrenal pheochromocytoma to the thoracic spine

Relato de un caso de feocromocitoma adrenal con metastasis para la columna que ocurrio con mas de 20 anos de diagnostico inicial. Mujer de 34 anos con historia de feocromocitoma metastasico diagnosticado en la edad de 12 anos, con presencia de debilidad, palpitaciones del corazon y dolor en la espalda circunferencial, con evolucion de cinco meses. A la paciente se le habia realizado diversas laparotomias por causa de metastasis abdominales y hepaticas. Durante la inspeccion, se mostro una lesion destructiva en T9. Despues de dos semanas de fenoxibenzamina preoperatoria para controlar la hipertension, se sometio a descompresion, fijacion y posterior fusion. La intervencion quirurgica fue seguida por radioterapia, acido zoledronico, y solo un ciclo de quimioterapia, debido a la intolerancia y a los efectos colaterales.La paciente sobrevivio 25 anos despues del diagnostico original, lo que excedio en mucho la sobrevida mediana de menos de 15 anos. La paciente murio 26 meses despues del postoperatorio debido a la progresion de la enfermedad. El hecho de la metastasis para columna haber ocurrido despues de 20 anos del diagnostico es bastante raro y se debe considerar en el diagnostico diferencial de un paciente con una historia de feocromocitoma
RNase E Regulates the Yersinia Type 3 Secretion System

Yersinia spp. use a type 3 secretion system (T3SS) to directly inject six proteins into macrophages, and any impairment of this process results in a profound reduction in virulence. We previously showed that the exoribonuclease polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) was required for optimal T3SS functioning in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Yersinia pestis. Here we report that Y. pseudotuberculosis cells with reduced RNase E activity are likewise impaired in T3SS functioning and that phenotypically they resemble Δpnp cells. RNase E does not affect expression levels of the T3SS substrates but instead, like PNPase, regulates a terminal event in the secretion pathway. This similarity, together with the fact that RNase E and PNPase can be readily copurified from Y. pseudotuberculosis cell extracts, suggests that these two RNases regulate T3SS activity through a common mechanism. This is the first report that RNase E activity impacts the T3SS as well as playing a more general role in infectivity.
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) decreases sodium-phosphate cotransporter type IIa (NpT2a) mRNA stability

The acute inhibitory effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on proximal tubule Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase (Na-K) and sodium-dependent phosphate (NaPi) transport have been extensively studied, while little is known about the chronic effects of PTH. Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, a condition characterized by chronic elevations in PTH, exhibit persistent hypophosphatemia but not significant evidence of salt wasting. We postulate that chronic PTH stimulation results in differential desensitization of PTH responses. To address this hypothesis, we compared the effects of chronic PTH stimulation on Na-P(i) cotransporter (Npt2a) expression and Na-K activity and expression in Sprague Dawley rats, transgenic mice featuring parathyroid-specific cyclin D1 overexpression (PTH-D1), and proximal tubule cell culture models. We demonstrated a progressive decrease in brush-border membrane (BBM) expression of Npt2a from rats treated with PTH for 6 h or 4 days, while Na-K expression and activity in the basolateral membranes (BLM) exhibited an initial decrease followed by recovery to control levels by 4 days. Npt2a protein expression in PTH-D1 mice was decreased relative to control animals, whereas levels of Na-K, NHERF-1, and PTH receptor remained unchanged. In PTH-D1 mice, NpT2a mRNA expression was reduced by 50% relative to control mice. In opossum kidney proximal tubule cells, PTH decreased Npt2a mRNA levels. Both actinomycin D and cycloheximide treatment prevented the PTH-mediated decrease in Npt2a mRNA, suggesting that the PTH response requires transcription and translation. These findings suggest that responses to chronic PTH exposure are selectively regulated at a posttranscriptional level. The persistence of the phosphaturic response to PTH occurs through posttranscriptional mechanisms.
Analysis of governing factors for photovoltaic loss mechanism of n‐CdS/p‐CdTe heterojunction via multi‐way data decomposition

An analytical framework for identifying key factors of the degradation of photovoltaic efficiency over time is presented. We demonstrate that, in many photovoltaic experimental settings, reliability data sets are easily cast in a multi- or N-way format. We adopt a statistical technique, N-way partial least squares, that generates a multi-linear model using all of the data simultaneously. With this approach, we are able to model variables of interest such as cell efficiency while representing the data in a lower-dimensional space in which salient features are more easily identified. We illustrate our approach with reliability data for CdS/CdTe heterojunction solar cell devices. Even with the inclusion of a noisy parameter such as the net acceptor density, and with a relatively small number of devices, we automatically identify key factors that are highly related to performance degradation. In particular, the conductance at the back contact is related to short stress-time degradation (0–300 h), whereas the net acceptor density near the junction (at +0.08 V DC bias) is correlated with more gradual, long stress-time degradation (300–1000 h). These notable degradation modes are explained with respect to our processing conditions and Cu-diffusion in the cells. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A 1-V +31 dBm IIP3, Reconfigurable, Continuously Tunable, Power-Adjustable Active-RC LPF

This paper proposes a biquad design methodology and presents a baseband low-pass filter for wireless and wireline applications with reconfigurable frequency response (Chebyshev/Inverse Chebyshev), selectable order (1st/3rd/5th), continuously tunable cutoff frequency (1-20 MHz), and adjustable power consumption (3-7.5 mW). A discrete capacitor array coarsely tunes the low-pass filter, and a novel continuous impedance multiplier (CIM) then finely tunes the filter. Resistive/capacitive networks select between the Chebyshev and inverse Chebyshev approximation types. Also, a new stability metric for biquads, minimum acceptable phase margin (MAPM), is presented and discussed in the context of filter compensation and passband ripple considerations. Experimental results yield an IIP3 of 31.3 dBm, a THD of -40 dB at 447 mVpk, diff input signal amplitude, and a DR of 71.4 dB. The filter's tunable range covers frequencies from 1 MHz to 20 MHz. In Inverse Chebyshev mode, the filter achieves a passband group delay variation less than plusmn2.5%. The design is fabricated in 0.13 mum CMOS, occupies 1.53 mm2 , and operates from a 1-V supply.
Seasonality in Regression

Abstract The effects of seasonal noise on regression estimates are considered as a type of errors-in-variables problem. The natures of asymptotic biases due to the presence of seasonal noise and to the nature of seasonal adjustment in regressions using adjusted and unadjusted data are explored. Methods for recognizing such biases and for attenuating their effects are suggested.
Self-Reported Birthweight and History of Having Been Breastfed among Younger Women: An Assessment of Validity

Background. Recent evidence suggests potential associations between birthweight and infant feeding history and risk of a variety of health outcomes during adulthood. Because studies may rely on self-reported birthweight and infant feeding history, it is important to assess the validity of this information. Methods. The authors compared birthweights reported by a sample of 538 women, 27-44 years of age, participating in the Nurses' Health Study II (NHSII) cohort, with birthweights recalled by their mothers and with those from state birth records. In addition, we compared participants' self-reported history of having been breastfed with their breastfeeding history reported by their mothers. Results. For birthweight, the correlation between reports by the cohort participants and by their mothers was high (Spearman r = 0.75). Compared with weights recorded on state birth records, correlations were 0.74 for reports by cohort participants and 0.85 for reports by their mothers. When comparing NHSII participants' self-report of ever having been breastfed with their mothers' report, sensitivity was 82% and specificity was 86%. For duration of breastfeeding, the Spearman correlation between mother and daughter reports was 0.74. In analyses stratified by four ethnic groups (African-American, Asian, Caucasian, and Hispanic) we observed substantial differences in distribution of birthweight and breastfeeding patterns ; however, the degree of validity in reporting them was similar. Conclusion. The validity of self-reported birthweight and breastfeeding history by these middle-aged women appears to be high.
Affinities of phosphorylated substrates for the E. coli tryptophan synthase alpha-subunit: roles of Ser-235 and helix-8' dipole.

The roles of Ser-235 and helix-8′ (residues 235–242) in the functional binding and turnover of phosphorylated substrates by the α-subunit of the E. coli tryptophan synthase (TSase) α2β2-holoenzyme complex are examined. Previous crystallographic analyses indicated that this region was one of several near the phosphate moiety of the physiological substrate, indole-3-glycerol phosphate (IGP). The peptidyl amido group of Ser-235 was suggested to H-bond to the phosphate group; a helix macrodipole binding role was suggested for helix-8′. The activities and substrate Kms of mutant α-subunits altered in this region by site-specific mutagenesis are reported here. Substitutions at Ser-235 by an acidic (glutamic acid, mutant SE235), basic (lysine, mutant SK235), or a nonpeptidyl amido-containing residue (proline, mutant SP235) exhibit 40- to 180-fold Km increases for IGP and D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate; no Km defects for indole were observed. kcat values for SP235, SE235, and SK235 are 100, 70, and 40%, respectively, of the wild-type value. Steric considerations may explain the results with the SE235 and SK235 mutant α-subunits; however, the SP235 results are consistent with the suggested phosphate binding role for the Ser-235 peptidyl amide group during catalysis. A helix-8′ dipole role was explored following proline substitutions separately at the first six (of eight) residues. Proline substitutions at positions-1 through -4 in helix-8′ have normal indole Kms and catalytic activities in all four TSase reactions, suggesting no major global structural changes in these proteins. By these criteria, substitutions at positions-5 and -6 lead to significant structural alterations. Km increases for phosphorylated substrates are substantial (up to 40-fold) and are dependent upon the presence of L-serine at the β-subunit active site. In the absence of L-serine, substitution only at the first position results in binding defects; in the presence of L-serine, substitutions at the first, second and third positions show binding defects of decreasing magnitude, sequentially. Substitutions at the fourth and fifth position have no effect on substrate binding. It is suggested that during catalysis a helix dipole effect on binding may be exerted but only via inter-subunit-induced conformational changes due to ligand (L-serine) binding to the β-subunit. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Severe dermatomyositis triggered by interferon beta-1a therapy and associated with enhanced type I interferon signaling.

Background Type I interferons (IFNs) are common therapeutics for several diseases, including viral infections and multiple sclerosis (MS). Although numerous studies have implicated type I INFs with the production of autoantibodies and the development of certain autoimmune disorders, interferon beta has not previously been described in association with dermatomyositis, to our knowledge. Previous microarray studies of muscle biopsy specimens from patients with dermatomyositis disclosed a type I IFN–induced gene expression profile. The central role of plasmacytoid dendritic cell precursors, together with increased type I IFN production, suggests a pivotal role for type I IFNs in dermatomyositis. We report a case of dermatomyositis exacerbated or induced by interferon beta therapy for MS and provide evidence that demonstrates enhanced type I IFN signaling in this patient. Observations We observed new-onset dermatomyositis in a 57-year-old patient treated with interferon beta for MS. His symptoms were exacerbated temporally by interferon beta injections. Immunohistochemical staining of skin biopsy specimens for myxovirus-resistance protein A (a surrogate marker for cutaneous type I IFN signaling) showed increased staining that correlated temporally with interferon beta treatment and subsequent disease activity. In vitro treatment with interferon beta of peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from our patient revealed enhanced type I IFN signaling assessed by interferon-induced gene expression profiles. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first description of dermatomyositis exacerbated or induced by interferon beta treatment. Our results demonstrate enhanced type I IFN signaling following interferon beta treatment in our patient with dermatomyositis.
Treatment of internal constraints by mixed finite element methods: Unification of concepts

A general method to generate assumed stress and strain fields within the context of mixed finite element methods is presented. The assumed fields are constructed in such a way that internal constraints are satisfied a priori. Consequently, the locking behaviour commonly observed in finite element solutions of problems with internal constraints is avoided. To this end, the assumed stress and strain fields are constructed to satisfy a priori the homogeneous part of the equilibrium equations, thus avoiding Fraeijs de Veubeke's limitation principle. Results obtained using the proposed methodology on a nearly incompressible plane strain problem and thin plate application using a shear deformable theory are indicated.