cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gene-environment interactions in asthma

Asthma is a complex disease, and its incidence is determined by an intricate interplay of genetic and environmental factors. The identification of novel genes for asthma suggests that many genes with small effects rather than few genes with strong effects contribute to the development of asthma. These genetic effects may in part differ with respect to a subject's environmental exposures, although some genes may also exert their effect independently of the environment. Whereas the geneticist uses highly advanced, rapid, comprehensive technologies to assess even subtle changes in the human genome, the researcher interested in environmental exposures is often confronted with crude information obtained from questionnaires or interviews. There is thus substantial need to develop better tools for individual exposure assessment in all relevant environmental fields. Despite these limitations, a number of important gene-environment interactions have been identified. These interactions point to the biology of environmental exposures as the involved genetic variation is suggestive of certain underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, the identification of subjects who are particularly susceptible to environmental hazards through genetic analyses helps to estimate better the strength of effect of environmental exposures. Finally, the analysis of gene-environment interactions may result in a reconciliation of seemingly contradictory findings from studies not taking environmental exposures into account.
Risks to normal tissues from radionuclide therapy.

The development of radionuclide therapies during the past few decades provides a growing body of data on radiobiologic effects, including normal tissue toxicities and antitumor efficacy. Information on normal tissue toxicity from radionuclides is more limited than that from external beam radiation and appears to be more variable. Much of the increased variability is attributed to heterogeneous distribution, which complicates the potential for whole-organ toxicity, and the differences in dosimetry methodology. Although new tools are becoming available, quantitation of heterogeneous dose for radionuclides is usually less precise than dosimetry that is used in external beam radiation practice. The correlation between reported dose estimates and toxicity has improved during the past 2 decades, partly as the result of increased accuracy and standardization of dosimetry techniques and to adjustment for biologic effects. This review provides an updated compendium of dose–response relationships and consideration of dosimetry as well as radiobiologic factors that influence the reported results. Data presented are mainly derived from studies involving deliver of radiation to adults with malignancies, with most experience from radionuclides that predominantly emit beta radiation.
Laplacian mapping of the somatosensory response of the median and tibial nerves

The somatosensory evoked response recorded using monopolar methods is influenced by activity at the reference electrode. The surface Laplacian operator applied to the evoked recordings removes nonlocal influences by providing a measure of the current flowing perpendicular to the skull near the recording electrodes. The accuracy of this measure is dependent on the density of the recording electrodes; thus a larger number is required. In this study Laplacian evoked response maps obtained from stimulation of several nerves are compared with corresponding potential maps. The influence of the number of electrodes and the ability of a Laplacian spatial map to distinguish between radial and tangential sources is also demonstrated. This is an extension of computer simulations and evoked potential studies that are being done in the authors' laboratory. >
A preliminary study on amelogenin-loaded electrospun scaffolds

Amelogenin is a major enamel matrix protein onto which developing enamel forms. In the realm of tissue engineering, amelogenin has been studied and applied to periodontal and wound healing applications. This study introduces the first attempts of incorporating amelogenin within an electrospun scaffold. Amelogenin was extracted from porcine unerupted tooth buds and electrospun with poly(glycolic acid) and poly(ϵ-caprolactone). Protein release kinetics, mechanical properties, fiber diameter, mineralization potential, and cell adhesion properties of the amelogenin-blended scaffolds were studied and compared to the electrospun poly(glycolic acid) and poly(ϵ-caprolactone) controls. Electrospun scaffolds loaded with amelogenin were incubated in phosphate buffer saline. Protein quantification and morphological and mechanical analyses were conducted on the degraded scaffolds, and the incubated phosphate buffer saline was also tested for protein content. Fresh scaffolds were incubated overnight in conventional sim...
Chemical Composition and Ruminal Fermentability of Barley Grain, Hulls, and Straw as Affected by Planting Date, Irrigation Level, and Variety

Four spring barley cultivars (Steptoe, Colter, Lud, and Gallatin) were grown under two planting dates and two postflowering irrigation levels to determine the source of differences in fiber composition, starch, and ruminal in situ disappearance. Planting date and irrigation level generated few differences in the chemical composition of barley grain, hull, or straw. Steptoe grain contained less (P 0.05) in grain starch content or in situ disappearance; however, in situ disappearance of the hulls was different (P 33.2 > 30.5% for Colter, Gallatin, and Lud, respectively. Similar to the responses observed for grain and hulls, Steptoe straw contained greater (P<0.05) NDF, ADF, and lignin, and was less ruminally degradable (P<0.05) than other varieties. Lud had straw with lesser (P<0.05) fiber content than Gallatin straw and greater (P<0.05) ruminal DM disappearance than Colter straw; however, these differences did not appear to be associated with hull characteristics. Hull percentage and chemical composition differed among barley sources which was associated with differences in ruminal degradability.
Dynamical search for bis-penicillamine enkephalin conformations.

Quenched molecular dynamics is used as a conformational search technique for the constrained cyclic analog [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE) in a continuum solvent. The results show a Gaussianlike distribution of conformations as a function of energy, unlike the distributions found for simple liquids which have sharp bands for different crystal forms and broad glasslike states are found. The lowest energy conformers have structural features in common with those obtained from constrained searches based on energy minimization. (Hruby, V. J., L-.F. Kao, B. M. Pettitt, and M. Karplus. 1988. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 110:3351–3359). Many of the low energy configurations are amphiphilic with the carbonyl groups on one surface and the hydrophobic groups on the other. This supports the conclusions from the previous modeling study, which yielded amphiphilic structures as the most probable conformations of DPDPE when NOE data were included.
INTERCOURSE AS DISCOURSE: THE CALCULUS OF OBJECTIFICATION AND DESIRE IN THE NOVEL AND FILM VERSIONS OF LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES

The calculus of objectification and desire in both the novel and film versions of Choderlos de Laclos's Liaisons dangereuses is derived in two principal ways. The first derivation, that of the Sadean will to objectify the other for erotic and intellectual satisfaction, precedes the second, that of the overarching wish to produce a written object announcing the conquest of the human object. Limited by the medium, the film adaptations of the Liaisons dangereuses cannot place as great an emphasis on the composition of letters. Nevertheless, they make allusions to it in such a manner that underscores this type of objectification process. This article examines the film adaptations of Letter XLVIII, where Valmont, after sleeping with a mistress, composes a sardonic but unwittingly revealing missive to the Presidente de Tourvel. Specifically, it is this mise a nu of Valmont as a libertine in Letter XLVIII that commands the attention of filmmakers. I contend that Stephen Frears (Dangerous Liaisons, 1988), Milos Forman (Valmont, 1989) and Roger Vadim (Liaisons Dangereuses, 1960) choose to adapt this scene not only because of its presumable entertainment value, but because its visual exploitation allows for a quick, cogent means of highlighting, if not simplifying, the complex motif of sexual objectification as it relates to issues of power and libertinage. From the standpoint of film as it relates to the novel, what adaptations of this scene show is that the necessary representational departures from the novel still ingeniously depict the way in which language and sex conspire to create and destroy Valmont and Merteuil's libertine universe. The scene becomes especially useful when considering questions of cinematic variation because each director's rendition serves as a microcosm of his version of Laclos's text. Consequently, viewing what I will call the 'writing table scene,' provides a summary of Frears's, Forman's and Vadim's interpretive style. In addition, the scene, as represented in the films, gives a modern commentary on female libertinage. Laclos's novel suggests that female libertinage has no chance of validation, let alone survival. By contrast, twentieth-century filmmaking seems to compensate by presenting scenarios which intimate that the will, pleasure, and intellect of female libertinage - if they cannot win - can at least live on or manifest themselves in some form beyond that of their creator, Merteuil. All the films emphasize the development of Cecile as a libertine who, with varying degrees of success, will carry on Merteuil's legacy.
Resistance and Transference in Intensive Short‐Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (IS‐TDP) and Classical Psychoanalysis—Similarities and Differences—Part II

Classical psychoanalysis and Davanloo's system of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (IS–TDP) share similar goals. Their aim is to increase the relative strength of the ego in relation to the superego, id, and external world. While attempting to accomplish this purpose, psychological forces opposing this goal (resistance) are ubiquitous. Both therapies focus in depth upon the therapist/ patient relationship (transference). However, the psychotherapeutic setting and the technical interventions utilized by the two therapies to work with resistance and transference differ dramatically. Part I of this article discusses the evolution of the concepts of resistance and transference from Freud to the present, and how the changes in perspective regarding these clinical phenomena have subtly altered psychoanalysis. The clinical manifestations of resistance and transference in IS–TDP, and how they are managed clinically, are highlighted. The technical interventions utilized to manage the transference resistance in both techniques are compared and contrasted.
Pathogenesis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in cystic fibrosis: current understanding and future directions

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is an allergic disease characterized clinically by wheezing, pulmonary infiltrates, bronchiectasis, and fibrosis that affects patients with asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF). Although this disease has been characterized by a Th2 immune response to Aspergillus, the disease has some features such as central bronchiectasis which is not seen in other Th2 driven lung diseases such as atopic asthma. Here we will review the current pathophysiology of ABPA in CF and highlight new molecules that may affect immune responses against Aspergillus and ABPA disease pathogenesis.
A lifecycle approach to design validation is it necessary? Is it feasible?

Due to the ever increasing complexity of car electronics, the automotive industry is challenged by serious test problems. These problems no longer can be solved using ad-hoc test approaches, hence the industry is driven toward finding new strategies for test, strategies that can deal with the increased complexity land at the same time keep the product costs at a reasonable level. This paper is proposing a test strategy that can satisfy the conditions stated above. It is based on optimizing the tests performed on vehicle electronics from a lifecycle test perspective, i.e. by optimizing the tests performed at each integration level from an overall DV perspective. The paper also discusses the feasibility of such an approach from test coverage point of view and states the reasons for such a view. The paper also presents a test methodology that was successfully applied at Ford Motor Company and which can cover all the stages of product development. This methodology is currently in use at Ford for all stages of product validation.
Identification of systems with cyclostationary input and correlated input/output measurement noise

An alternative approach to Wiener's optimum filtering theory for stationary random time series that is applicable when the system input exhibits cyclostationarity is presented. This alternative approach can, in principle, eliminate performance degradation due to input/output corruption. This method of system identification is called the SPECCORR (spectral correlation ratio) method, since the cross spectra in the ratio are actually spectral correlation functions. An application to interference-tolerant time-difference-of-arrival estimation is described and illustrated by simulation results, showing its effectiveness for system identification with severely corrupted input/output measurements. A comparison of Wiener's method to the SPECCORR method shows the superior performance of the latter. >
Edge Flames in Confined Mixing Layers

The of dynamics of an edge ame con ned in a narrow channel is studied numerically within the context of a di usive-thermal model. Fuel and oxidizer, separated upstream by a thin plate, ow through a channel with a prescribed velocity. At the tip of the plate, the fuel and oxidizer mix and, when ignited, an edge ame is sustained at some distance from the plate. The objective in this work is to determine the e ect of lateral con nement on the stando distance, the ame shape, and the ame stability. We consider a wide range of widths, allow for di erential di usion and examine the e ect heat loss to the channel wall.
Prevention of Bipolar Disorder in At-Risk Children: Theoretical Assumptions and Empirical Foundations

This article examines how bipolar symptoms emerge during development, and the potential role of psychosocial and pharmacological interventions in the prevention of the onset of the disorder. Early signs of bipolarity can be observed among children of bipolar parents and often take the form of subsyndromal presentations (e.g., mood lability, episodic elation or irritability, depression, inattention, and psychosocial impairment). However, many of these early presentations are diagnostically nonspecific. The few studies that have followed at-risk youth into adulthood find developmental discontinuities from childhood to adulthood. Biological markers (e.g., amygdalar volume) may ultimately increase our accuracy in identifying children who later develop bipolar I disorder, but few such markers have been identified. Stress, in the form of childhood adversity or highly conflictual families, is not a diagnostically specific causal agent but does place genetically and biologically vulnerable individuals at risk for a more pernicious course of illness. A preventative family-focused treatment for children with (a) at least one first-degree relative with bipolar disorder and (b) subsyndromal signs of bipolar disorder is described. This model attempts to address the multiple interactions of psychosocial and biological risk factors in the onset and course of bipolar disorder.
Molecular and Morphological Phylogenetic Analysis of an Insular Radiation in Pacific Black Flies (Simulium)

Ecological adaptation within islands may have figured prominently in the insular radiation of black flies (subgenus Inseliellum) in the Society Islands, French Polynesia. To aid in understanding the sequence of ecological shifts in this group, we have constructed a phylogeny by using morphology, the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene, and the small ribosomal subunit (12S) gene. The strong influence of COI on the combined analysis tree was evident from its contribution to the partitioned Bremer support (62%). The net effect of including 12S was to reduce overall tree support. Different character sets resolved different portions of the combined analysis tree, with COI resolving recent lineages, 12S resolving basal relationships, and morphology supporting the monophyly of taxa having smaller larval feeding fans (oviceps group). The Partition Homogeneity and Kashino-Hasegawa tests indicated significant incongruence between morphological and mitochondrial data. The Templeton test revealed that morphology and the combined (COI + 12S) mitochondrial data were incongruent. This conflict stems primarily from disagreement over the monophyly of taxa having much smaller larval feeding fans. Either convergence in a subset of morphological characters, low phylogenetic signal among mitochondrial sequences, or lineage-sorting causing the mitochondrial data to track an incorrect evolutionary history may be responsible for these results.
Mapping a Jacobi Iterative Solver onto a High-Performance Heterogeneous Computer

High-performance heterogeneous computers that employ field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) as computational elements are known as high-performance reconfigurable computers (HPRCs). For floating-point applications, these FPGA-based processors must satisfy a variety of heuristics and rules of thumb to achieve a speedup compared with their software counterparts. By way of a simple sparse matrix Jacobi iterative solver, this paper illustrates some of the issues associated with mapping floating-point kernels onto HPRCs. The Jacobi method was chosen based on heuristics developed from earlier research. Furthermore, Jacobi is relatively easy to understand, yet is complex enough to illustrate the mapping issues. This paper is not trying to demonstrate the speedup of a particular application nor is it suggesting that Jacobi is the best way to solve equations. The results demonstrate a nearly threefold wall clock runtime speedup when compared with a software implementation. A formal analysis shows that these results are reasonable. The purpose of this paper is to illuminate the challenging floating-point mapping process while simultaneously showing that such mappings can result in significant speedups. The ideas revealed by research such as this have already been and should continue to be used to facilitate a more automated mapping process.
The condensing of low pressure steam on vertical rows of horizontal copper and titanium tubes

Heat transfer data are presented for condensing steam at 2 in. Hg absolute pressure on the outside of nine copper and nine titanium horizontal tubes in a vertical row. The condensing coefficient correction factor was maximum for the top titanium tube and was 46% higher than the correction factor for the top copper tube. The difference between the correction factors for titanium and copper tubes diminished with the number of tubes in a vertical row to 8% higher than the correction factor for copper tubes with six to nine tubes in a vertical row.
Transposon-Mediated Single-Copy Gene Delivery Leads to Increased Transgene Expression Stability in Barley

Instability of transgene expression in plants is often associated with complex multicopy patterns of transgene integration at the same locus, as well as position effects due to random integration. Based on maize transposable elements Activator (Ac) and Dissociation (Ds), we developed a method to generate large numbers of transgenic barley (Hordeum vulgare var Golden Promise) plants, each carrying a single transgene copy at different locations. Plants expressing Ac transposase (AcTPase) were crossed with plants containing one or more copies of bar, a selectable herbicide (Basta) resistance gene, located between inverted-repeat Ds ends (Ds-bar). F1 plants were self-pollinated and the F2 generation was analyzed to identify plants segregating for transposed Ds-bar elements. Of Ds-bar transpositions, 25% were in unlinked sites that segregated from vector sequences, other Ds-bar copies, and the AcTPase gene, resulting in numerous single-copy Ds-bar plants carrying the transgene at different locations. Transgene expression in F2 plants with transposed Ds-bar was 100% stable, whereas only 23% of F2 plants carrying Ds-bar at the original site expressed the transgene product stably. In F3 and F4 populations, transgene expression in 81.5% of plants from progeny of F2 plants with single-copy, transposed Ds-bar remained completely stable. Analysis of the integration site in single-copy plants showed that transposed Ds-bar inserted into single- or low-copy regions of the genome, whereas silenced Ds-bar elements at their original location were inserted into redundant or highly repetitive genomic regions. Methylation of the non-transposed transgene and its promoter, as well as a higher condensation of the chromatin around the original integration site, was associated with plants exhibiting transgene silencing.
The elongation factors Pandora/Spt6 and Foggy/Spt5 promote transcription in the zebrafish embryo

Precise temporal and spatial control of transcription is a fundamental component of embryonic development. Regulation of transcription elongation can act as a rate-limiting step during mRNA synthesis. The mechanisms of stimulation and repression of transcription elongation during development are not yet understood. We have identified a class of zebrafish mutations (pandora, sk8 and s30) that cause multiple developmental defects, including discrete problems with pigmentation, tail outgrowth, ear formation and cardiac differentiation. We demonstrate that the pandora gene encodes a protein similar to Spt6, a proposed transcription elongation factor. Additionally, the sk8 and s30 mutations are null alleles of the foggy/spt5 locus, which encodes another transcription elongation factor. Through real-time RT-PCR analysis, we demonstrate that Spt6 and Spt5 are both required for efficient kinetics of hsp70 transcription in vivo. Altogether, our results suggest that Spt6 and Spt5 play essential roles of comparable importance for promoting transcription during embryogenesis. This study provides the first genetic evidence for parallel functions of Spt6 and Spt5 in metazoans and establishes a system for the future analysis of transcription elongation during development.
The Asp299Gly Polymorphism Alters TLR4 Signaling by Interfering with Recruitment of MyD88 and TRIF

Asp(299)Gly (D299G) and, to a lesser extent, Thr(399)Ile (T399I) TLR4 polymorphisms have been associated with gram-negative sepsis and other infectious diseases, but the mechanisms by which they affect TLR4 signaling are unclear. In this study, we determined the impact of the D299G and T399I polymorphisms on TLR4 expression, interactions with myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2), LPS binding, and LPS-mediated activation of the MyD88- and Toll/IL-1R resistance domain-containing adapter inducing IFN-β (TRIF) signaling pathways. Complementation of human embryonic kidney 293/CD14/MD2 transfectants with wild-type (WT) or mutant yellow fluorescent protein-tagged TLR4 variants revealed comparable total TLR4 expression, TLR4-MD2 interactions, and LPS binding. FACS analyses with anti-TLR4 Ab showed only minimal changes in the cell-surface levels of the D299G TLR4. Cells transfected with D299G TLR4 exhibited impaired LPS-induced phosphorylation of p38 and TANK-binding kinase 1, activation of NF-κB and IFN regulatory factor 3, and induction of IL-8 and IFN-β mRNA, whereas T399I TLR4 did not cause statistically significant inhibition. In contrast to WT TLR4, expression of the D299G mutants in TLR4(-/-) mouse macrophages failed to elicit LPS-mediated induction of TNF-α and IFN-β mRNA. Coimmunoprecipitation revealed diminished LPS-driven interaction of MyD88 and TRIF with the D299G TLR4 species, in contrast to robust adapter recruitment exhibited by WT TLR4. Thus, the D299G polymorphism compromises recruitment of MyD88 and TRIF to TLR4 without affecting TLR4 expression, TLR4-MD2 interaction, or LPS binding, suggesting that it interferes with TLR4 dimerization and assembly of intracellular docking platforms for adapter recruitment.
Ultrasound and ski resort clinics: mapping out the potential benefits.

Background Skiing and snowboarding are popular activities that involve high kinetic energies, often at altitude, and injuries are common. As a portable imaging modality, ultrasound may be a useful adjunct for mountainside clinics. This review briefly discusses skier and snowboarder injury profiles and focuses on the role of ultrasound for each injury type. Methods Twenty-two sources including 17 reviews and observational studies were obtained describing skier and snowboarder injuries. Forty-nine studies were identified defining ultrasound applications for these injuries, including 38 reviews and observational studies, 6 case reports or case series, 3 cross-sectional studies, and 2 randomized, blinded studies. Results Approximately 200 000 rider injuries are evaluated in the Unites States seasonally. Musculoskeletal injuries are the most common, and head, face, neck, and abdominal injuries are also prevalent, as are exacerbations of preexisting disease. Ultrasound has been shown to be useful and accurate for evaluating the aforementioned injury types, including joint, ligament, tendon, and fracture evaluation. Ultrasound has not been extensively studied in the prehospital setting, and only limited data address the utility of how it might influence management in a mountainside clinic setting. Conclusions Ultrasound has the potential to be a useful diagnostic modality in ski resort clinics. The most promising areas for future, applied studies include evaluation of musculoskeletal injuries (especially injuries to joints and tendons and ruling out fractures), assessing for elevated intracranial pressure in minor head injuries and symptoms of altitude illness, and focused assessment with sonography for trauma and extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma examinations for cases of chest and abdominal trauma of unknown significance.
Is the hospital volume-mortality relationship in coronary artery bypass surgery the same for low-risk versus high-risk patients?

Abstract Background There is evidence to support the existence of an inverse relation between mortality after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and procedure volume. It is unclear whether all patients benefit equally from having CABG surgery performed at high-volume centers. The objective of this study was to determine whether the volume-outcome association for CABG surgery is modified by patient risk. Methods This retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using data from the Cardiac Surgery Reporting System database on all patients (20,078) undergoing CABG surgery in New York State who were discharged in 1996. The main outcome measure was in-hospital mortality as a function of procedure volume after adjusting for severity of disease. Logistic regression modeling was used to explore the interaction between patient risk and procedure volume. Results There is a significant interaction between procedure volume and patient risk ( p = 0.01). The final model exhibits excellent discrimination (C statistic=0.818) and goodness-of-fit (Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic=6.02; p = 0.645). Very low ( 10%) patients at high-volume centers relative to low-volume centers. Among the highest risk patients (>25% risk of mortality), higher risk patients have better outcomes at higher volume centers. Conclusions For the vast majority of patients, low-risk patients benefit significantly more than high-risk patients from undergoing CABG surgery at high-volume centers instead of at low-volume centers. Low-risk patients benefit significantly more than high-risk patients from undergoing CABG surgery at high-volume centers instead of at low-volume centers. However, before generalizing these findings to other states, this study should be repeated using other regional population-based clinical databases.
Thruster residues on returned Mir solar panel

A solar panel with more than ten years space exposure was returned to Earth in January 1998. Several types of residues were deposited or transported onto the solar cell coverglasses during the space exposure. Self-contamination of SiOx films from the silicone potting compound was a major contamination of the coverglasses. A second type of contamination was thick, detergent-like residues of the order of a millimeter diameter on many, but not most of the coverglasses. A third, prevalent type of contamination was very thin irregular shaped films or patterns of a millimeter size which are readily visible in brilliant colors when the coverglasses are viewed with a 50x brightfield microscope. These prolific, overlapping, and almost ubiquitous patterns strongly suggest wetting on the surface. The probably cause of most of the wetted patterns on the returned Mir solar cell coverglasses is trace hydrazine nitrate in condensed water droplets produced as reaction products from Mir's and the Orbiters' hypergolic thrusters. This paper presents some of the wetted patterns, information regarding hypergolic reaction products, and type of thrusters associated with Mir operations.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Cluster of Highly Rarefied Jets Expanding into Vacuum

This paper presents a fundamental gaskinetic study on highly rarefied jets expanding into vacuum from a cluster of planar or annular exits. Based on the corresponding exact expressions for a planar or annular jet, it is convenient to derive the combined multiple jet flowfield solutions of density, velocity components; however, for the combined temperature and pressure solutions, extra attention shall be practiced. Several direct simulation Monte Carlo simulation results are provided to validate these analytical solutions, and the analytical and numerical solutions are essentially identical for these jet flows at high Knudsen numbers.
INDIVIDUAL RISK VERSUS IMMEDIATE REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS: A BASIS FOR LATITUDINAL DIFFERENCES IN THE ADRENOCORTICAL RESPONSE TO STRESS IN YELLOW WARBLERS (DENDROICA PETECHIA)

Abstract In many bird species, Arctic-breeding and temperate-zone-breeding populations may have different behavioral and physiological adaptations that reflect trade-offs between immediate survival and reproductive success. Compared with their temperate-zonebreeding counterparts, Arctic breeders face shorter breeding seasons and less predictable environments. As a result, it may be necessary for Arctic breeders to employ immediate life-saving responses (facilitated through an acute adrenocortical response) that might come at the expense of immediate reproductive success. Regardless of latitude, the sexes may also face differences in the trade-off between immediate survivorship and reproductive effort. To investigate those hypotheses, we (1) measured the adrenocortical response of male and female Yellow Warblers (Dendroica petechia) at both ends of a north-south breeding distribution and (2) examined within- and between-sex variation in corticosterone secretion during distinct stages of the breeding season...
DIRECT DELIVERY OF GDNF INTO THE NON-HUMAN PRIMATE AND HUMAN PARKINSONIAN BRAIN: SUCCESS AND ROAD BLOCKS

ABSTRACT Trophic factors are proteins with enormous therapeutic potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD), including the potential to (1) slow the degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons, (2) enhance the function of residual dopamine neurons or (3) restore function to injured neurons. Novel methods for sustained delivery of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) into the nigrostriatal pathway have been studied in non-human primates, including the use of computer-controlled infusion pumps. Using this approach, we have demonstrated that chronic, intracerebral infusions of GDNF promotes restoration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system and significantly improves motor functions in rhesus monkeys with neural deficits modeling PD. However, translational studies from the laboratory to the clinic for the treatment of PD have been problematic. On one hand, GDNF was not efficacious when delivered intraventricularly in PD patients, likely failing because of poor drug penetration through the ventricular wall into the parenchyma of the basal ganglia. On the other hand, two independent open label Phase-1 studies have reported marked functional improvements in advanced PD patients receiving chronic intraputamenal infusion of GDNF, whereas a separate, randomized, blinded multicenter trial of intraputmenal GDNF infusion did not achieve the primary study endpoint. In addition, safety concerns have arisen including the presence of neutralizing antibodies to GDNF in some patients. The major difficulty with risk assessment at this time is the failure to have a Phase-2 trial replicating the successful Phase-1 trials in dose and methods of trophic factor delivery. Thus, before any definitive conclusions could be made regarding the use of GDNF as a therapy for PD, a properly designed, adequately powered multicenter Phase-2 clinical trial should be conducted in PD patients.
Linking extractables and leachables in container/closure applications.

Establishing a link between extractables and leachables may be necessary to understand, interpret, assess, quantify, or control the interaction between a drug product and its container/closure system. This paper considers the various factors that affect the rigor with which such a linkage is established and justified. Such an assessment considers the origin and/or genesis of the leachable or extractable, enumerates situations in which extractables/leachables linkages are useful, ties such situations to the drug product9s lifecycle, defines a hierarchy of linkages based on the rigor with which the linkages are established and justified, and establishes guidelines for how to determine what kind of linkage is appropriate for certain circumstances and situations. Additionally, this paper gives several examples of linkages relevant to flexible plastic drug product containers.
Observations on Behavior of the Coatimundi

Observations on inherited behavior patterns of mammals and the manner in which they enable a species to live as it does or where it does have for the most part been neglected by mammalogists. A knowledge of inherited behavior and its capability of being modified under different environments may have important implications not only in the control or management of certain species but also in understanding their ecology, distribution, and evolution. During the past six years I have had opportunity to make certain field observations on wild-coatimundis ( Nasua narica ) in Veracruz, Chiapas, Yucatan, and Panama. Two of these seem worth recording, especially when compared with the behavior of a captive which was taken, while still very young, from its wild mother in southern Yucatan. This young female ( Nasua narica yucatanica ) was captured in the forest near Chochola, Yucatan, early in July, apparently only a few days after its eyes had opened. Since that time it has been kept in Fresno, California, and has never seen or been near another coatimundi. Any peculiar behavior traits that it possesses that have also been observed in wild coatimundis are therefore presumed to have been inherited. Arboreal behavior .—Although troops of coatimundis have at times been surprised while rooting and digging in the soft soil or forest litter, they have also been observed many times as high as 100 feet above the ground …
Federal Policy for Basic Research: Presidential Staff and the National Science Foundation, 1950–1956

N ow that humanists have a "national foundation," they face many of the same problems that confronted American scientists in the late 1940s and the 1950s, when the National Science Foundation was projected and began to function. Will the newly endowed scholars and artists learn from the scientists and avoid some of the policy imbroglios which have complicated federal-science relations? The story of Executive Order 10521-its genesis and execution-is an important episode in the history of policy-making for basic research. For the humanist, the parallels may be frightening. When, in January 1949, William D. Carey of the Bureau of the Budget wanted to put "a little muscle" into the proposed National Science Foundation, he encountered opposition from his colleagues in the bureau and from scientific agencies of the executive branch. Despite rewording, the Foundation bill as passed in 1950 directed the new agency "to develop and encourage the pursuit of a national policy for the promotion of basic research and education in the sciences," to appraise the impact of research upon industrial development and upon the general welfare," and ttto evaluate scientific research programs undertaken by agencies of the Federal Government. ..."I The first four years of the Foundation's life were marked by the search for an interpretation of these powers, which would be acceptable to the National Science Foundation itself, to the Executive Office of the President and its budget bureau, to the older scientific bureaus, and to the scientific community at large. Five central difficulties prevented early resolution of the Foundation's policy, coordination, and evaluation roles. First, as Charles V. Kidd has pointed out, the Foundation was conceived as a super-agency almost inde-
Management of CAH during pregnancy: optimizing outcomes.

Purpose of review Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency is one of the most common autosomal recessive disorders. In the past, pregnancy was considered to be unlikely for women with CAH, particularly the classical forms. The purpose of this review is to provide current information regarding the pathophysiology of CAH, factors relevant for female and male fertility, and recommendations for management during pregnancy. Recent findings Individuals with CAH, both female and male, have reduced fertility. For women, chronic anovulation, elevated progestin levels, and aberrant endometrial implantation have been identified as reasons for the subfertility. Testicular adrenal rest tumors, oligospermia, and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism are frequently associated with subfertility in men with all forms of CAH. Summary Adequate suppression of progesterone appears to be an essential aspect of preconception management for women. Most importantly, treatment needs to be individualized. Awareness of these factors and appropriate therapeutic interventions can lead to successful outcome defined as a healthy live born infant.
Yeasts Isolated from Drosophila and From Their Suspected Feeding Places in Southern and Central California

In 1948 Dobzhansky expressed the view that yeasts are important in understanding some of the forces of natural selection to which popula? tions of Drosophila flies are exposed. Since then there has been an intense interest in the relation of yeast to Drosophila in nature. Al? though certain aspects of this relationship have been studied, information pertaining to the taxonomy of yeast occurring in Drosophila flies is quite limited. Chatton (1913) reported the occurrence of Coccidiascus ligeri as an intestinal parasite of D. funebris. In 1944 Dobzhansky and Epling iso? lated a yeast, which they termed 5\ farinosus (syn. Pichia farinosa), from the crops of D. pseudoobscura. Later, at Dobzhansky's suggestion, Wagner isolated some yeasts from the crops of D. pseudoobscura col? lected at Pinon Flats in the San Jacinto mountains in Southern Cali? fornia. These were identified by Mrak (unpublished data) as species of the genus Zygosaccharomyces. Wagner (1944) also isolated but did not identify 8 types of yeast from Opuntia fruits and demonstrated that the yeasts had different nutritional qualities for certain species of Dro? sophila. Buzzati-Traverso in 1950 3 isolated 15 cultures of Torulopsis from Drosophila flies trapped in the Po Valley in Italy. Hedrick and Burke (1950) and Hedrick and Burke (1952) identified 17 yeasts iso? lated from crop contents, feces, and immediate substrates of two species of flies (D. crucigera and D. pilimana) collected in Hawaii. Shehata and Mrak (1952) compared the intestinal yeast floras of successive populations of Drosophila. In this study emphasis was placed on the relation of the type of yeast to the population cycles of the differ? ent chromosomal types of Drosophila pseudoobscura rather than on the taxonomy of the yeast isolated. In somewhat similar work da Cunha et al. (1951) demonstrated that certain yeasts isolated from the crops
Breastfeeding: What are the Barriers? Why Women Struggle to Achieve Their Goals

Despite recognized health benefits for both mothers and infants, significant disparities still exist in the rates of breastfeeding in the United States. Major organizations representing the health of women and children (including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP], American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology [ACOG], American Academy of Family Physicians [AAFP], United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization [WHO], and the United States Public Health Service [PHS]) recommend exclusive breastfeeding, but statistics show that although many women initiate breastfeeding, few meet the recommended goals for duration and exclusivity. This article reviews the evidence related to barriers (prenatal, medical, societal, hospital, and sociocultural) that many mothers face, and explore the known barriers and the impact they have on a woman's ability to breastfeed her infant. Strategies will be discussed to address (and potentially overcome) some of the most common barriers women face along with a list of resources that can be useful in this effort. Gaps in care and areas that need further research will be noted. This article is targeted toward physicians and other healthcare providers who work with women and who can assist with and advocate for the removal of barriers and thereby improve the health of women and children by increasing the rates of breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity in the United States.
Epedemiological analysis of sexually transmitted diseases in 2008—2009 in Taizhou Prefecture

[Objective] To ascertain the status quo and the law in the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases(STD) in Taizhou Prefecture,and provide information for STD control and prevention. [Methods] The surveillance data on STD from 2008 to 2009 in Taizhou Prefecture was analyzed. [Results] STD mainly consisted of syphilis,gonorrhea and condyloma acuminatum.Of the venereal cases,97.1 percent were local residents.The sex ratio between male and female patients was 0.83∶1,of whom the patients aged 20 to 39 years accounted for 54.9 % and farmers,the unemployed and workers 63.8%. [Conclusion] STDs were relatively serious in Taizhou Prefecture.The measures for STD control and prevention are urgently needed,especially for the population aged 20 to 40 years.
A 5 nW Quasi-Linear CMOS Hot-Electron Injector for Self-Powered Monitoring of Biomechanical Strain Variations

Piezoelectricity-driven hot-electron injectors (p-HEI) are used for self-powered monitoring of mechanical activity in biomechanical implants and structures. Previously reported p-HEI devices operate by harvesting energy from a piezoelectric transducer to generate current and voltage references which are then used for initiating and controlling the process of hot-electron injection. As a result, the minimum energy required to activate the device is limited by the power requirements of the reference circuits. In this paper we present a p-HEI device that operates by directly exploiting the self-limiting capability of an energy transducer when driving the process of hot-electron injection in a pMOS floating-gate transistor. As a result, the p-HEI device can activate itself at input power levels less than 5 nW. Using a prototype fabricated in a 0.5- $\mu\text{m}$ bulk CMOS process we validate the functionality of the proposed injector and show that for a fixed input power, its dynamics is quasi-linear with respect to time. The paper also presents measurement results using a cadaver phantom where the fabricated p-HEI device has been integrated with a piezoelectric transducer and is used for self-powered monitoring of mechanical activity.
A mixed-ensemble model for hospital readmission

A mixed-ensemble model for hospital readmission is proposed.The mixed-ensemble model enables controlling the tradeoff between reasoning transparency and predictive accuracy.The mixed-ensemble model increases the classification accuracy for positive readmission instances.An optimization approach for the mixed-ensemble model is proposed.The mixed-ensemble model has been implemented for predicting all-cause hospital readmissions of CHF patients. ObjectiveA hospital readmission is defined as an admission to a hospital within a certain time frame, typically thirty days, following a previous discharge, either to the same or to a different hospital. Because most patients are not readmitted, the readmission classification problem is highly imbalanced. Materials and methodsWe developed a hospital readmission predictive model, which enables controlling the tradeoff between reasoning transparency and predictive accuracy, by taking into account the unique characteristics of the learned database. A boosted C5.0 tree, as the base classifier, was ensembled with a support vector machine (SVM), as a secondary classifier. The models were induced and validated using anonymized administrative records of 20,321 inpatient admissions, of 4840 Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) patients, at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals in Pittsburgh, from fiscal years (FY) 2006 through 2014. ResultsThe SVM predictions are characterized by greater sensitivity values (true positive rates) than are the C5.0 predictions, for a wider range of cut off values of the ROC curve, depending on a predefined confidence threshold for the base C5.0 classifier. The total accuracy for the ensemble ranges from 81% to 85%. Different predictors, including comorbidities, lab values, and vitals, play different roles in the two models. ConclusionsThe mixed-ensemble model enables easy and fast exploratory knowledge discovery of the database, and a control of the classification error for positive readmission instances. Implementation of this ensembling method for predicting all-cause hospital readmissions of CHF patients allows overcoming some of the limitations of the classifiers considered individually, and of other traditional ensembling methods. It also increases the classification accuracy for positive readmission instances, particularly when strong predictors are not available.
Fuzzy diagnostic gear determination

This paper outlines a Diagnostic Signal Backup/replacement strategy to determine the current driving gear of a vehicle in the case that the ordinarily responsible message is lost or corrupted. The strategy is implemented in software. The source data for the evaluations was empirical measured data from a vehicle under normal operating conditions. This paper explores the use of a Fuzzy Logic Inference System (FIS) to improve or replace an existing software algorithm for gear determination. The Fuzzy software system is developed using MATLAB Fuzzy Tool Box and simulated in the MATLAB Simulink environment. A Fuzzy Logic Mamdani computational model is employed to process dynamic sensor/ECU input. The result of the FIS defuzzified output is an integer number representative of the gear in which the vehicle under test is estimated to be under any given instantaneous vehicle operating conditions. The process for development of the FIS is outlined and the results are compared between the Fuzzy and Non-Fuzzy determinations.